Our Story
The Moline-Shen Foundation was born from a simple belief: that every person deserves dignity, a warm meal, and a safe place to sleep.
Founded on compassion, sustained by community
In 2018, longtime Central Texas residents Dr. Rod Moline and Weizhen Shen were dividing time between their residence in Austin and farm located near Coupland, Texas. They witnessed the areas homeless population grow while resources remained fragmented and underfunded. Rather than wait for systemic change, in 2025 they pooled personal savings, and investment returns, to create a small foundation dedicated to fund support for organizations already doing the best they can for homeless and food insecure individuals and families.
Every dollar donated and distributed goes directly to vetted charitable organizations — we cover our operating costs separately so donors can give with confidence.
Today the Foundation focuses on two interconnected crises: homelessness and food insecurity. We believe that stable housing and reliable nutrition are the foundation on which every other aspect of a person's life depends.
Dignity first
We fund programs that treat every person as a full human being, not a statistic or a problem to be managed.
Radical transparency
The Moline-Shen Foundation annually publishes donation and award lists, so all contributors and awardees know to whom and how much support is provided.
Community-led solutions
We follow the lead of organizations embedded in the communities they serve. They know what works; we try to provide them resources.
Board & Leadership
Dr. Rod Moline
Co-Founder & Board Chair
Dr. Moline has worked in private and public sectors within industries as far ranging as oil and gas to human resources and programs aiding disabled persons. He has extensive experience successfully managing nonprofit organizations.
Weizhen Shen-Moline, PMP
Co-Founder & Treasurer
Weizhen Shen has over 30 years of experience in the public sector working with programs that provide a wide array of health services to Texas residents and businesses. She is passionate about homelessness, especially among youth.
Leah Bao-Moline
Board Member
Leah is currently an agricultural sciences student at Texas Tech University where she hopes to pursue veterinary medicine. She is compassionate about the needs of homeless persons, especially teens. Leah likewise feels passionate about the welfare of all animals.
Austin Moline, LMSW
Board Member
Austin Moline is a practicing social worker with over a decade of food system experience; from hands-on farm operations to regional food system planning and food access projects. He particularly focuses on soil and ecosystem health and how they connect to human well-being outcomes.
Krissy Voutas
Board Member
Krissy has over 15 years experience working with Central Texas food systems. Her main focus has been connecting the food cycle from seed to compost and back again. She believes in the dignity and worth of all people and is passionate about food security.
Join us in making a difference
Whether you give $25 or $25,000, your contribution funds real change for real people in Central Texas.