Charity founder says he secretly gave FTX fraud figure Caroline Ellison a job

Caroline Ellison, the former Alameda Research CEO who served prison time for her role in the FTX fraud case Bloomberg/Getty Images Manifund CEO Austin Chen says Caroline Ellison has taken a role at the grantmaking platform.

Ellison admitted to misusing FTX customer funds and testified against Sam Bankman-Fried.

Chen said Ellison's new role is to research how to direct philanthropic dollars.

It looks like Caroline Ellison has emerged from stealth mode.

A nonprofit CEO announced Friday that he secretly gave a job to Ellison — who went to prison in connection with fraud by Sam Bankman-Fried's crypto exchange.

Austin Chen, the founder of Manifund, a grantmaker tied to the effective altruism movement, wrote on Substack that Ellison, 31, will develop its platform and research "how to effectively direct philanthropic dollars." In the post, Chen framed the hiring as a second chance for Ellison.

"I believe in redemption," he wrote.

"Caroline has admitted her faults, worked to make creditors whole, and served her time in prison.

I'd like to give her the opportunity to contribute back to the world; I hope that the world will concur." Manifund began as a charitable side project of Manifold Markets, a prediction market company cofounded by Chen.

Manifold was previously backed by FTX Future Fund, a philanthropic initiative, which Chen noted in the blog.

Chen confirmed the news in a brief text message to Business Insider.

He did not provide documentation of Ellison's new role.

Ellison could not be reached for comment.

The blog contained a message in Ellison's name.