2025-26 Iron Giraffe Challenge is Open!
Join the fun—and make a difference!
The Iron Giraffe Challenge, a program of Water for South Sudan (WFSS), is a fun and impactful fundraising event where schools compete to support clean water projects in South Sudan. Students, teachers, and communities come together to raise at least $1,000. Schools that meet this goal are entered to win exciting prizes, including a visit from Salva Dut, the founder of Water for South Sudan. Participants also receive a special classroom poster celebrating their efforts. Registration is free, making it easy for schools to join and make a meaningful difference while engaging students in a hands-on philanthropic challenge that creates real social impact.
*Note: Your IGC pledge can count toward a sponsorship.
Contact us to share your interest in sponsoring a clean water project.
For Title 1 schools: when registering using the form below, be sure to select “Yes” for the Title 1 school option.
Step 1
Start by filling out an Iron Giraffe Challenge Registration Form.
Please note: While multiple classes from the same school are welcome to fundraise for the IGC, the school will receive only one entry in the drawing.
(Already registered? Scroll down to see your school’s name!)
IGC 2025-26 dates & deadlines
Registration deadline: April 3, 2026
Funds due: April 17, 2026
Live drawing: May 1, 2026, 12pm EST
Step 2
As you plan (or continue) fundraising, bookmark this page and make sure to check out these resources.
Prizes & rules Fundraising Packet Donation Information
Challenge Checklist Letter from Salva
Printable Fundraising Thermometer
Please send donations by check along with a Donation Summary Form.
For international schools interested in submitting funds via wire transfer, please fill out this form.
Step 3
Begin (or continue) fundraising! As part of IGC registration, you will receive a confirmation email with additional information on how to create a fundraising page through GiveLively. You are under no obligation to use the online fundraising page.
For additional support, contact us.
Click below for a special message from Salva!
Registered Schools in the Iron Giraffe Challenge
2025-26
* Returning participant
Bold = reached $1,000 goal
Ada W. Harris Elementary School, CA, USA*
Allegheny-Clarion Valley Junior/Senior High School, PA, USA*
Anza Elementary School, CA, USA
Apex Elementary School, NC, USA
Archbold Middle School, OH, USA*
Argyle Middle School, MD, USA
Assumption Catholic School, FL, USA*
Audubon Park K-8 School, FL, USA*
Aviara Oaks Middle School, CA, USA*
Bailey Middle School, NC, USA
Bergen Catholic High School, NJ, USA*
Bernheim Middle School, KY, USA
Bethel Middle School, AR, USA*
Blessed Sacrament School, IL, USA
Blue Valley School, Costa Rica
Brewster High School, NY, USA*
Bridge Creek Middle School, OK, USA
Buffalo Prairie Middle School, MO, USA
Cabot Middle School North, AR, USA*
Calera Middle School, AL, USA
Camanche Middle School, IA, USA
Cane Bay Middle School, SC, USA
Cap Cana Heritage School, Dominican Republic
Carl Sandburg Middle School, PA, USA*
Cascade Middle School, IN, USA
Cashmere Middle School, WA, USA
Centennial Academy Charter School, GA, USA
Central Middle School, IL, USA*
Chagrin Falls Middle School, OH, USA*
Chaparral Elementary School, CA, USA*
Chicago Christian School, IL, USA*
Christ the Teacher Catholic School, DE, USA
Clever Middle School, MO, USA
Collegium Charter School, PA, USA*
Crestdale Middle School, NC, USA
Dallam School, United Kingdom*
Del Mar Pines School, CA, USA
Dutton Christian School, MI, USA*
East Ward Elementary, NJ, USA
Elma Township Public School, Canada*
Farley Elementary School, KS, USA
Federal Hill Preparatory School, MD, USA
Forestville High School, NY, USA
Fort Worth Country Day School, TX, USA*
Frank H. Wheeler Elementary School, IN, USA*
Frankfurt International School Wiesbaden, Germany*
Frontier Trail Middle School, KS, USA*
Gifted Academy at Thurgood Marshall School, IL, USA*
Glenwood Springs Middle School, CO, USA*
Granada Hills Charter, CA, USA*
Greece Athena Middle School, NY, USA*
Greene County Community Middle School, IA, USA*
Griswold Middle School, CT, USA*
Hampton Cove Elementary School, AL, USA
Hardin Northern Elementary School, OH, USA
Hawthorne Elementary School, CA, USA
Hazen Union School, VT, USA*
HERO Homeschool Group, SC, USA
Highland Academy Charter School, CA, USA
Holland Patent Middle School, NY, USA*
Holy Cross Lutheran Academy, FL, USA
Houston Academy, AL, USA*
Hubert H. Bancroft Elementary, CA, USA
iLEAD Hybrid School, CA, USA
Independence Middle School, VA, USA*
Ipswich Middle School, MA, USA*
I.S. 281 Joseph B. Cavallaro Middle School, NY,
USA
I.S. 584, NY, USA
Jennie F Snapp Middle School, NY, USA
JFK Middle School 6th Grade, MA*
John J. Ahern Middle School, MA, USA
Kanoelani Elementary School, HI, USA
Kerman Middle School, CA, USA
Keene Middle School 7th Grade, NH, USA*
Lake Ridge Academy, OH, USA*
Lakewood City Schools Battle of the Books Club Emerson Elementary School, OH, USA
Langston Hughes Middle School, VA, USA*
Leslie Lewis Elementary School, IL, USA
Lighthouse Commonwealth of Iron County, UT, USA
Lincoln Middle School, RI, USA
Loveland Intermediate School, OH, USA*
Madeira Beach Fundamental K-8 School, FL, USA
Marion C. Moore School, KY, USA
Martic Elementary School, PA, USA*
Mayfield High School, NY, USA*
McGee Middle School, CT, USA
Middle School of Piedmont, OK, USA
Millcreek Junior High School, UT, USA
Mineola Middle School, NY, USA*
Mission Trail Middle School, KS, USA*
Mokapu Elementary School, HI, USA
Monsignor Matthew F. Clarke Catholic Regional School, RI, USA
Mountain Sage Community School, CO, USA
Mountain View Middle School, PA, USA*
Munger Elementary-Middle School, MI, USA
N.L. Dillard MIddle School, NC, USA
New Boston Central School, NH, USA
North Shore Middle School, NY, USA*
Northpoint Christian School, MS, USA*
Northside Methodist Academy, AL, USA
Ophir STEAM Academy, CA, USA
Our Lady of Grace, PA, USA*
OX TLC International School Dongguan, China*
P.75Q The Robert E. Peary School, NY, USA
Palominas Elementary School, AZ, USA
Parkview Public School, Canada
Parkville Middle School, MD, USA
Pathway School of Discovery, OH, USA
Pioneer Middle School, NY, USA
Pittman Charter School, CA, USA
Presbyterian Day School, TN, USA*
P.S./M.S. 280X, NY, USA
Robert Adams Middle School, MA, USA*
Saint Bernadette School, MD, USA
St. Hilary School, OH, USA
St. Justin Martyr School, MO, USA
St. Patrick School Malvern, PA, USA
St. Pius X Catholic School, IN, USA*
Salisbury Central School, CT, USA
Samoset Middle School, MA, USA
Scioto Elementary School, OH, USA*
Sedgwick Middle School, CT, USA*
Shady Side Academy Middle School, PA, USA*
Shanghai Vanke Bilingual School Minhang, China
Sinking Springs Elementary, PA, USA
South Cumberland Elementary School, TN, USA*
Springhouse Middle School, PA, USA
St. Clare School, NY, USA*
St. Walter Catholic School, IL, USA
Strathcona Elementary School, Canada
Summit Middle School, OK, USA
Sunnycrest Elementary School, WA, USA
Tamarac Middle & High School, NY, USA*
Tarbiyah Academy, MD, USA*
TVT Community Day School, CA, USA
The Museum School of Avondale Estates, GA, USA*
The New School, AR, USA*
Thomas Jefferson Middle School, NJ, USA
Thornwell Charter School, SC, USA
Timothy Christian School, Canada*
Trinity Lutheran School, OH, USA*
Tripp Middle School, ME, USA*
Tupper Lake Middle-High School, NY, USA
U-32 School, VT, USA*
Utica Community Schools Instructional Resource Center, MI, USA
Valley Stream South High School, NY, USA
Valor Academy, WY, USA
Venture Academy, WI, USA
Veronica E. Connor Middle School, NY, USA*
Village School, CA, USA
W.F. Burns Middle School, AL, USA
Waldorf School of Garden City, NY, USA
Walker Charter Academy, MI, USA*
Wantagh Middle School, NY, USA*
Washington Heights Academy, NY, USA
West New York Public School #2, NJ, USA*
Whigham Elementary School, GA, USA
Zeigler-Royalton Junior High, IL, USA
What is an Iron Giraffe Drill?
Fun fact: The Iron Giraffe Drill refers to the drill used to dig for wells, such as in the photo on the left!
Students, teachers, and schools like you make our work possible. We are immensely grateful for your tremendous fundraising efforts and united passions, ultimately coming together to water the seeds of change in South Sudan.
If you are interested in sharing how the Iron Giraffe Challenge motivated and inspired your school to help make a difference, please fill out this form.
If your community group is interested in participating in the Iron Giraffe Challenge, please contact us for more information.
“The Iron Giraffe Challenge empowers students to become global citizens through meaningful service. By participating, they don’t just learn about the world—they actively shape it, seeing firsthand how their efforts help expand access to clean water and strengthen communities in South Sudan.”
— Shannon Hesel, Executive Director
Check out former IGC Grand Prize Winners!
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International School of Denver
2022-2023 Winner
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Fallston Middle School
2021-22 Winner
-
Carlsbad High School
2020-21 Winner
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A. F. Ames Elementary School
2019-20 Winner
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DSBN Academy
2018-19 IGC Winner
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Pine Lake Prep Charter
2017-18 IGC Winner