According to cofounder Austin Chen, former Alameda Research chief executive Caroline Ellison has secured a fresh position at the charitable nonprofit Manifund.
Chen announced on Friday that Ellison has taken on a job at Manifund focused on building out its grantmaking platform and strengthening its giving initiatives. Chen explained that Ellison completed a working evaluation period with the organization starting in July and transitioned to a permanent staff position in August, releasing her output under the alias “Carol.”
Ellison entered a guilty plea in December 2022 to conspiracy and fraud counts linked to the late 2022 implosion of the digital asset platform FTX, an event that triggered billions in customer deficits. She assisted law enforcement authorities and served as a witness against FTX creator Sam Bankman-Fried, who received a conviction and a 25-year prison term.
Ellison commenced her two-year prison term in November 2024, though she secured an early release in January 2026, most likely owing to her assistance in advancing the probes surrounding FTX.
Chen commented on the downfall of FTX and the massive capital wiped out for backers.
“I believe in redemption,” Chen stated in a publication. “Caroline has owned up to her mistakes, put effort into making creditors whole, and completed her prison sentence. I want to grant her the chance to give back to society, and I trust society will agree.”
Ellison expressed enthusiasm regarding her new position while also expressing regret for her prior behavior.
“Yet I am deeply thankful to Austin for offering me another opportunity and evaluating me based on my present contributions instead of my history,” Ellison noted in the publication. “I feel extremely fortunate not only to have employment, but to be engaged with an organization I believe performs exceptional work and pursues a cause I support.”
At the time of her guilty plea and during her sentencing hearing, Ellison’s legal counsel did not immediately reply to an inquiry for a statement.
Based on its web page, the nonprofit centers its attention on AI safety and effective altruism initiatives.
Originally published at https://www.theblock.co/news/business/2026-09-11-former-alameda-ceo-caroline-ellison-joins-nonprofit-charity-manifund-414310.
