Save the world by... gaming online?

Americans donated fewer dollars in 2009 than during previous years, and for those of us still tightening our belts, charity can be last thing on our minds. You don't need to break the bank to help a good cause, however. You only need to click your computer mouse and win a few games.

Simple click charities began a decade ago with the Hunger Site, which donates all proceeds to organizations that fight for food security across the globe. Visitors create revenue by viewing advertising banners on the site. Recently this donation method has evolved into a more interactive form of altruism by combining clicks with cracking puzzles. You get the satisfaction of knowing you're giving to a good cause while also having a good time.

You might learn a thing or two as well. FreeRice, the most popular site for game donation, gives 10 grains of rice to the UN World Food Programme for every correct answer on a multiple choice question. With topics ranging from vocabulary to geography, you can brush up on your elementary knowledge. As of June 2010, visitors have raised more than 80 billion grains of rice total. Like the Hunger Site, advertising banners pay for the rice. FreeRice also offers an installable toolbar for browsers which earns rice each time you search the web. This feature is completely free to users.

Meanwhile, gaming company Mobile Deluxe has partnered with the non-profit Trees for the Future and also with the Beautiful Day Foundation to raise funds for the environment and further breast cancer research. Games can be played online or downloaded on a mobile platform such as an iPhone or BlackBerry. The game Sudoku costs $2.99 but each dollar goes toward planting a tree. Currently players have earned nearly 6,000 trees towards an ultimate goal of 25,000. In a matching game called Bliss, players earn points to receive a ribbon code, which can then be entered to register a $0.05 donation. The organization hopes to gain 100,000 ribbons in all.

If cute animals are more your style, you can join the Fuzz Academy and play games, read comics or create an avatar. The social gaming site offers donations to the Nature Conservancy, the ASPCA and also the World Wildlife Fund.

Adjusted for inflation, charitable giving fell nearly six percent during last year's recession, according to the Giving USA Foundation's annual report on philanthropy. Some of the most underfunded organizations included those devoted to meeting basic needs such as food and shelter. Overall, however, donations exceeded $300 billion and made up more than two percent of the nation's Gross National Product. It's one bright spot in down times.

While some argue that the internet and other virtual forms of communication are tearing apart our social fabric, extending a helping hand is easier than ever. You can give your time and money to valuable causes with a single click and, even if you don't care about helping people across the world get access to food, water and other necessities, you can at least get your Sudoku fix.