Apply for the Civil Grand Jury to help fix what's broken in SF

Want to make a difference in SF without running for office? Join the Civil Grand Jury and investigate the inner workings of city departments, audit how public funds are spent, and publish findings that can lead to real change.

The Facts

The Civil Grand Jury is accepting applications now through May 2, 2025. It's composed of 19 San Francisco residents of all ages and backgrounds who will serve one-year terms, with about 10 hours per week of work.

The San Francisco Civil Grand Jury investigates how local government is working… or not working. Members investigate the operations of city agencies, departments, and officials, audit how funds are spent, or even examine the City's emergency preparedness.

Despite being called a "jury," it isn't part of any court case. Instead, it's a civilian investigatory body that prepares and publishes reports with findings and recommendations for use by the public, civic watchdogs, and elected officials. It's part of California's civil oversight system, and every county is required to convene one annually.

If you're interested in serving, apply to the SF Civil Grand Jury by May 2, 2025!

The Context

Here are a few Civil Grand Jury reports released in 2024:

• “Commission Impossible” (2024)
  The Civil Grand Jury determined that SF has too many commissions—115 in total. The Jury found many are inactive, redundant, or lacking oversight. It recommended cutting at least 15 and creating an oversight board.

• “Come Hell or High Water” (2024)
  The Civil Grand Jury determined that the City isn't ready for flooding. The Jury found poor coordination, no funding plan, and little public outreach, urging stronger planning and communication.

• “Uncontrolled Burn” (2024)
  The Civil Grand Jury determined that SF is unprepared for a major fire. The Jury cited weak evacuation planning, unclear messaging, and poor coordination—and called for a real wildfire response plan.

The GrowSF Take

If you're reading this, then not only are you qualified, you're needed! If you have just 10 hours per week to spare, we need smart, curious, and civic minded people like you to serve. The deadline for this year is May 2, 2025. Check out more about the Civil Grand Jury and apply for the 2025-2026 year here.

If you want to get even more involved, we recently launched GrowSF Talent to help connect people to Commissions, work on campaigns, or even run for office. Learn more and apply if that sounds interesting!