This year you may have heard about a new phenomenon called slacktivism (slacker + activism). Don’t let the name perturb you, it’s a good thing: A no-hassle “feel-good” way people can support charities and social issues with just the click of a button. And it’s shaping the way nonprofits function.

Andy Vuong of the Denver Post recently wrote about this rising trend and how nonprofits are leveraging technology and shifting charitable donations from collection trays and kettles to laptops and cell phones.

By now we’ve probably all experienced some form of slacktivism. Think about the Haiti earthquake in early 2010. By simply texting the word “Haiti” to 90999, we helped raise more than $41 million, giving American Red Cross the resources needed to provide food, water and shelter to thousands suffering.

Our client FirstBank and Community First Foundation are also making it easier for consumers to give to their favorite charities and causes on Colorado Gives Day, December 8. The first-day in Colorado history dedicated to supporting nonprofits.

During the 24-hour period starting midnight December 8, donations will be accepted through GivingFirst.org with the goal of raising $1 million. FirstBank has committed $300,000 to the fundraiser, which includes a $250,000 lead gift to the Colorado Gives Day incentive fund and $50,000 to help offset credit card processing fees.

Colorado Gives Day gives nonprofits, many of which don’t have online capabilities or the funds to pay credit card fees, the opportunity to collect donations without throwing a costly benefit. And donors can be reassured 100 percent of their hard-earned money goes to the charity/charities of their choice.

But the biggest benefit of Colorado Gives Day? If you want to help find a cure for cancer, stop animal abuse, provide shelter for battered women and enhance opportunities for special needs children… now you can, on one site, with just the click of a button. Slacktivists unite!