Our Grand Juries Should Look Like All of US
Building California's First Civil Grand Jury Scholarship Program
​​We're removing financial barriers to civic participation in Humboldt County. Help us launch a program that pays working people to hold power accountable.
Humboldt County's Civil Grand Jury investigates local government, reviews over $200 million in county spending, and holds public officials accountable. But there's a critical problem: only people who can afford to work for free get to serve.
Current Reality:
-
Average grand jury age: 65+ (overwhelmingly retirees)
-
Minimal representation from Native American, Latino, and working-age communities
-
Superior Court reports "desperate need" for jury candidates
-
Current compensation: $15/day (less than minimum wage)
The Impact: When grand juries don't reflect our community's diversity, critical perspectives are missing from government oversight. Working families, people of color, and rural residents are systematically excluded from one of the most powerful tools for local accountability.
We're changing that.
The Solution: California's First Civil Grand Jury Diversity Grant Program
The Transparent Humboldt Coalition is pioneering California's first Civil Grand Jury Scholarship Program - comprehensive financial support that allows working people to serve their community without economic hardship.
​
What the Program Will Provide
-
Living Wage Compensation $175/day stipend competitive with local median wages, replacing lost income
-
Childcare Support Up to $75/day to ensure parents can participate in civic oversight
-
Transportation Assistance Mileage reimbursement and transit support, especially for rural residents
-
Training & Development $500 orientation stipend plus ongoing civic education
-
Community Support Mentorship, peer networks, and organizational connections
How Do We Get There?
Program Scale (Year 1)
4 scholarship recipients annually
$137,750 annual budget
21% of grand jury from previously excluded communities
First-in-California model for statewide replication
​
Phase 1: Secure Funding (Current Phase - 2025)
What We're Raising: $137,750 for first year operations Funding Sources:
-
Foundation grants (James Irvine, California Wellness, Ford Foundation)
-
Individual donor campaign ($40,000 target)
-
Corporate sponsorships (local businesses)
-
The Coalition's organizational investment ($50,000 committed)
What Your Support Funds:
-
4 full scholarships for qualified community members
-
Bilingual application portal and support systems
-
Community outreach to underrepresented populations
-
Selection committee coordination and training
-
Program evaluation and impact documentation
Phase 2: Community Outreach (2025 - Early 2026)
-
Partnership development with tribal governments and community organizations
-
Application assistance workshops throughout the county
-
Media campaign raising awareness of the program
-
Selection committee establishment with diverse representation
Phase 3: First Cohort Launch (July 2027)
-
Applications open February 2027
-
Selection process March-April 2027
-
First scholarship recipients begin service July 2027
-
Real-time evaluation and program refinement
Phase 4: Sustainability & Replication (2028+)
-
Diversified funding model with reduced grant dependence
-
Model documentation for other California counties
-
Policy advocacy for statewide civic access funding
-
Expansion to support 6-8 recipients annually
Program Impact
Immediate Impact:
-
Working people can afford to serve without financial hardship
-
Demographic transformation of Humboldt's primary oversight body
-
New perspectives in government accountability and budget review
-
Economic opportunity for community members ($34,000+ annual income)
Long-term Transformation:
-
Model for replication across California's 58 counties
-
Strengthened civic engagement in traditionally excluded communities
-
Improved government responsiveness to diverse community needs
-
Pipeline of trained civic leaders from underrepresented populations
Statewide Innovation: This isn't just a Humboldt County program - it's California's first systematic approach to removing economic barriers from civil grand jury service. Success here creates a blueprint for democratic participation statewide.
Who Will Benefit?
The program will prioritize:
-
Working parents who can't afford unpaid civic service
-
Native American community members (12.4% of Humboldt population, minimal grand jury representation)
-
Latino/Hispanic community members (14.9% of population)
-
Rural residents facing geographic and economic barriers
-
Household income under $75,000
-
People whose perspectives have been systematically excluded from oversight
No special experience required - just commitment to community, critical thinking, and ability to serve 10-30 hours/week for 12 months.
Support the Vision
Help us Make History
Personal Donation Levels
​
Founding Champion - $35,000 Fully fund one scholarship recipient
-
Named scholarship recognition
-
Annual impact report on your recipient's contributions
-
Recognition at program launch event
-
Founding donor status for first-in-state innovation
Impact Partner - $15,000-$20,000 support
-
Co-sponsor recognition on program materials
-
Invitation to selection committee observation
-
Quarterly program updates
-
Media recognition as democracy innovator
Community Builder - $5,000-$10,000 Essential program elements
-
Recognition on website and materials
-
Annual impact reports
-
Program launch invitation
Democracy Supporter - $2,500-$5,000 Critical foundation building
-
Website acknowledgment
-
Program updates
Every contribution matters! $175 provides one day of civic service for someone who couldn't otherwise afford to participate, and if ten of us can give $20 that day is covered.
Business Sponsorship
Businesses supporting this program demonstrate commitment to:
-
Community investment and democratic participation
-
Economic opportunity for local residents
-
Government accountability and transparency
-
First-in-state innovation and leadership
​
Foundation & Major Donor Inquiries
We're actively seeking foundation partners and major donors who share our vision of expanding democratic
participation. Comprehensive program documentation, evaluation frameworks, and replication plans available.
Make a donation
This is your campaign description. It's a great place to tell visitors what this campaign is about, connect with your donors and draw attention to your cause.
$0 raised
0 donations
0%
Frequency
One time
Monthly
Yearly
Amount
$2,500
$5,000
$10,000
$15,000
$20,000
$35,000
Other
0/100
Comment (optional)
​​
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Why does this program need funding? Can't the county pay for this?
A: While the Superior Court provides minimal compensation ($15/day), it's not enough for working people to participate. Our scholarship fills that gap with living wages, childcare support, and transportation assistance. We're demonstrating the model works before advocating for public funding.
​
Q: How do you know this will work?
A: San Francisco's "Be the Jury" program proved financial support increases jury diversity. We've built on that success with comprehensive support systems, community partnerships, and rigorous evaluation. Our detailed program plan demonstrates this isn't just an idea - it's implementation-ready infrastructure.
Q: Will this really be first-in-California?
A: Yes. While some counties have tried increasing stipends, no one has created a comprehensive scholarship program specifically designed to remove economic barriers and increase demographic diversity in civil grand juries.
​
Q: What happens after year 1?
A: We're building sustainable funding through diversified sources: continued foundation support (reduced percentage), individual donor base, corporate sponsorships, and fee-for-service (technical assistance to other counties). By year 3, we'll be 60% non-grant funded.
Q: How will you know if it's working?
A: Comprehensive evaluation tracking: demographic changes in grand jury composition, application volume from target communities, participant completion rates, community impact, and replication interest from other counties. Annual public reporting with academic research collaboration.
Q: Can I volunteer instead of donating?
A: Not yet - we need funding first to build operational capacity. Once launched, volunteer opportunities will include application assistance, community outreach, mentorship, and administrative support.
Q: What if you don't reach your funding goal?
A: We have a scaled approach: full funding supports 4 recipients annually; partial funding supports 2-3 recipients while we continue fundraising. We won't launch until we can provide meaningful support to participants.​