March 2026

Why does the City of Birmingham contract with Next, a nonprofit 501(c) (3), to provide senior services?

According to the National Council of Nonprofits, “A nonprofit service organization is mission-driven, operating for public benefit by delivering expertise, labor, and assistance to the community. Success depends on skilled employees who build meaningful relationships with those they serve.”

Nowhere is that definition more true than when you look at Next. Unlike every other municipally funded senior center in Oakland County, Next is a 501(c)(3). As an autonomous organization, Next has been the City of Birmingham’s senior service provider for the past 48 years. We have both the expertise and the efficiency to care for our senior community while saving the City and its taxpayers, a great deal in operating costs.

If a municipality provided senior services directly, conservatively, costs would double taking into account the added expense of personnel benefits, retirement wages, facility operations, insurance and administrative overhead.

Like many nonprofits, Next operates with a lean budget while still providing extensive senior program offerings and impactful support services to all Birmingham senior residents.

Take support services. Over a 12-month period Next typically provides Birmingham residents with approximately 9,000 hours of direct service conservatively valued at $180,000 in cost avoidance to taxpayers. These critical services allow residents to age in place, and remain healthy and independent, and are available to all senior residents free of charge, not just Next members.

As more residents begin to age and live longer, these services have become a lifeline to many. Some of the many support services we provide are simple transactions like scheduling reliable transportation or delivering a hot meal, but so much of what we do is delicate and very personal.

Asking for help is hard. It means coming to terms with lost independence and new limitations and sharing these struggles with friends and family. We take the time to build trust, and cultivate relationships that can make all the difference to the quality of a senior’s daily life, assuring our seniors are cared for with respect and compassion.

Another important advantage under our nonprofit model is our dedicated volunteers. Next is fortunate to have many volunteers that support our organization; as board members, office assistants, teachers and tutors, group facilitators, and team leaders. Our volunteers provide an estimated 3,855 hours of service each year, valued at over $100,000 using standard nonprofit accounting, an additional cost avoidance to the city. Without volunteers, our payroll would become much larger or our offerings much smaller.

Add in our ability to accept grants and donations, reach out to foundations and to fundraise; the advantages of partnering with Next as a nonprofit organization, become clear.

The City of Birmingham has made the wise decision to partner with Next for senior services, a model that continues to deliver exceptional value and exceptional service to Birmingham residents.

Cris Braun is Executive Director of Birmingham Next