Coming out of the holiday season, I thought we might find January a slow month for free web-based professional development opportunities for nonprofit folks — but, in fact, with 33 different webinars in the list, this month's round-up of training events is larger than ever! 

Take a look:

Behind the Scenes: Scheduling in Performing Arts
Tuesday, 5 January 2010
11:00 a.m. (Mountain)
This free webinar from Dean Evans & Associates Inc. offers a quick, 15-minute introduction for Performing Arts facilities on what to look for in a scheduling solution, including reporting, capacity control, charging for space and resource scheduling.
Register

Grantseeking Basics
Tuesday, 5 January 2010
3:00 p.m. (Eastern)
This introductory course provides an overview of the funding research process for those seeking grants from foundations, corporations, and grantmaking public charities. Also available in Spanish.
Register

Grantseeking Basics for Individuals in the Arts
Wednesday, 6 January 2010
2:00 p.m. (Eastern)
This web-based course is geared towards individuals involved in the arts and looking to fund any type of arts-related project, but may be of interest to arts organizations in providing advice and guidance to their members.
Register

Gifts In Kind International 101 Webinar
Wednesday, 6 January 2010
3:30 p.m. (Eastern)
This free webinar provides an overview of Gifts In Kind International's services for charitable organizations. Participation in this session is recommended for newly registered charities, those considering registration, employees new to Gifts In Kind's services or others who simply want to hear about its latest offerings.
Register

Starting a Nonprofit
Tuesday, 12 January 2010
10:00 a.m. (Central)
Barry Silverberg of the Texas Association of Nonprofit Organizations explains how and why you should explore whether the creation of a nonprofit is the best way to achieve the goals or purposes you seek to achieve, and understand what it means to be a nonprofit legally and in management terms — before you start the paperwork.
Register

Thanks a Million: How to Thank Your Donors So They'll Come Back and Give More
Tuesday, 12 January 2010
1:00 p.m. (Eastern)
Are you maintaining and building your relationships with donors as well as you could be? Are you saying exactly what your supporters need to hear such that they'll become repeat donors? Network for Good's Katya Andresen and Care2's Jocelyn Harmon delve into effective donor cultivation and messaging in this free webinar, part of the NonProfit 911 training series on nonprofit marketing and online fundraising.
Register

Researching on the Social Web
Tuesday, 12 January 2010
11:00 a.m. (Pacific)
Debra Askanase of Community Organizer 2.0 will discuss how your organization can gain relevant, tangible knowledge from online social media research. Attendance at this webinar is free or by donation, your choice.
Register

What is Wild Apricot?
Tuesday, 12 January 2010
2:00 p.m. (Eastern)
This free webinar, led by Giuliano Valentino, introduces the Wild Apricot software for associations, nonprofits and other member-driven organizations, demonstrating its major features: membership management, web editing, event management, and fundraising.
Register

Proposal Writing Basics
Tuesday, 12 January 2010
2:00 p.m. (Eastern)
In this free webinar from the Foundation Center you will learn the basics of writing a proposal for your nonprofit organization. This course is also offered in Spanish.
Register

Jumpstart Your Job Search in 2010
Wednesday, 13 January 2010
12:00 p.m. (Eastern)
Hosted by NPAG’s Director of Candidate Services, Erin O’Connor Jones, this complimentary webinar from Idealist.org is aimed at nonprofit job seekers, encore careerists and sector switchers searching for their next, great nonprofit job in 2010.
Register

The Power of Social Networking Sites for People with Disabilities
Wednesday, 13 January 2010
1:00 p.m. (Central)
This free webinar will examine what social networking is all about and how it can be leveraged successfully to enhance communication and to break down barriers to full participation by everyone in the digital age. Part of the ADA Accessible Technology On-line Seminar Series to increase awareness on technology accessibility for people with disabilities.
Register

Effective Marketing Communications on a Shoestring
Wednesday, 13 January 2010
2:00 p.m. (Eastern)
Most nonprofit organizations have extremely limited marketing communication budgets, but that doesn’t mean you can’t create and execute effective marketing plans. This webinar from Synthesis Partnership, led by Michele Levy, aims to help nonprofit professionals do just that. Part of the "Wednesday Webinars" series of free one-hour sessions offered by experts in nonprofit management, aimed at providing professional development opportunities for senior staff and trustees of nonprofit organizations.
Register

Your Board and Fundraising: An Introductory Class
Wednesday, 13 January 2010
2:00 p.m. (Eastern)
The purpose of this webinar from the Foundation Center is to help you think systematically through the process of getting your board actively involved with your nonprofit's fundraising efforts.
Register

An Overview of Website Accessibility
Thursday, 14 January 2010
11:00 a.m. (Pacific)
The best practices for web accessibility dovetail with good overall usability, and are easy to implement. This session will cover topics such as understanding the difference between various accessibility guidelines, avoiding common accessibility errors, when — and when not — to rely on automatic accessibility checkers, and unexpected populations that benefit from accessible websites. Some knowledge of HTML coding would be beneficial to those attending this free webinar from TechSoup Talks.
Register

Creating Energy That Lasts
Thursday, 14 January 2010
2:00 p.m. (Eastern)
Barbara Talisman of Talisman Associates suggests methods to create and maintain positive energy, to keep yourself and your staff motivated. Full participation in the free webinar is applicable for 1.0 points in Category 1.B Education of the CFRE International application for initial certification and/or recertification.
Register

Introduction to Fundraising Planning
Thursday, 14 January 2010
3:00 p.m. (Eastern)
If your organization has never developed a fundraising plan or calendar, this session is for you. You'll learn how to conduct an assets inventory, develop a case statement, identify potential funding partners, and prepare a fundraising plan and calendar.
Register

From Recovery to Prosperity: The Power of Vision and Leadership
Tuesday, 19 January 2010
9:00 a.m. (Pacific)
Designed specifically for existing and aspiring executive leaders, this two-part Webex webinar deals with creating a clear and inspiring vision as one of the most critical ongoing roles of a successful leader.
Register

Engaging Pro Bono and Skilled Volunteers
Tuesday, 19 January 2010
11:00 a.m. (Pacific)
If you're thinking about adding skilled volunteers to your program, or if you've just started, this seminar from VolunteerMatch.org can help you make the experience successful for both the volunteer and the organization. Topics to be covered include navigating the introduction of the idea into your organization, developing projects, the art of delegating work to volunteers, and setting achievable outcomes.
Register

Proposal Budgeting Basics
Tuesday, 19 January 2010
2:00 p.m. (Eastern)
This free webinar is geared towards the novice grantseeker. Prior attendance at the free Proposal Writing Basics webinar is recommended but not a prerequisite.
Register

Finding the Perfect Social Media and Communication Blend: How to Break Down Walls and Strike a Balance Between All of Your Online Lives
Tuesday, 19 January 2010
3:00 p.m. (Eastern)
While not specifically directed at the nonprofit sector, this free public relations webinar sponsored by PRSA is an opportunity for marketing and communications professionals working with nonprofits to learn how to harmonize your personal and professional lives online; how different types of social media are looking more and more alike; the best practices for sharing content; how public relations, marketing and customer service can operate symbiotically on the social Web; and how to identify future trends.
Register

Cultivating Stakeholders: A Strategy of Inclusion for Challenging Times
Wednesday, 20 January 2010
1:00 p.m. (Eastern)
Sam Frank of Synthesis Partnership leads this free one-hour session, part of the "Wednesday Webinars" series of professional development opportunities for nonprofit management professionals. Participants will gain an understanding of the basic structure of an effective planning process, ways of adapting it for individual organizations, the roles of various stakeholders and how to engage them, and some specific tools to use in planning.
Register

Before You Seek a Grant: A Checklist for New Nonprofits
Wednesday, 20 January 2010
1:00 p.m. (Eastern)
This webinar will provide you with a step-by-step checklist approach to help increase your organization's readiness for foundation fundraising.
Register

Successful Volunteer Interview Strategies
Wednesday, 20 January 2010
11:00 a.m. (Pacific)
VolunteerMatch.org introduces a variety of question types used in volunteer interviews and offers strategies for honing your interview skills. Materials will be provided to help you implement this process in your organization, as well as a training syllabus so you can learn how to recruit and train a volunteer staff to assist with prospective volunteer interviews.
Register

Are There Alternatives to Starting a Nonprofit?
Wednesday, 20 January 2010
2:00 p.m. (Eastern)
Is setting up a nonprofit organization the only way to accomplish your charitable goals? In this free live Q & A session, attorney and Nonprofit Law Blog publisher Gene Takagi will share information and answer your questions about alternatives to starting a nonprofit organization.
Register

Getting it Right! - Grant Research & Writing
Wednesday, 20 January 2010
2:00 p.m. (Eastern)
Successful grant writing requires great research, listening and writing skills, as well as time management. This interactive webcast by Barbara Talisman, President of Talisman Associates, will present best practices for writing successful grants and provide you with tools for great grant writing. Full participation in the free webinar is applicable for 1.0 points in Category 1.B Education of the CFRE International application for initial certification and/or recertification.
Register

How to Approach a Foundation
Thursday, 21 January 2010
2:00 p.m. (Eastern)
This webinar from the Foundation Center covers strategies for effective communications with grantmakers, taking you through initial contact to what happens after you receive funding.
Register

How Your School Can Utilize Social Media
22 January 2010
2:00 p.m. (Eastern)
In this free seminar from Blackbaud, Steve Morrill from Loyola Blakefield High School will share his school's success incorporating Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and other social media networks into their marketing and communications strategy.
Register

The New Volunteer Manager's Toolkit
Tuesday, 26 January 2010
11:00 a.m. (Pacific)
New to volunteer management? Looking for a refresher on the basics? This webinar from VolunteerMatch.org walks you through the three Rs of recruitment, retention and recognition. Topics for discussion include interviews, orientations, volunteer handbooks, etc., as well as the importance of managing risk for your program and your organization. All attendees will also receive a sample packet with examples and program assessment checklists to help you evaluate your existing program.
Register

Introduction to Corporate Giviing
Tuesday, 26 January 2010
3:00 p.m. (Eastern)
This free webinar introduces the world of corporate support for nonprofits and the effective utilization of the Foundation Center's resources on corporate giving. Prior attendance at the Grantseeking Basics webinar (5 January) is strongly recommended.
Register

How to Find Local Grant Funding in Your Area
Tuesday, 26 January 2010
9:00 p.m. (Eastern)
This free teleconference, hosted by the faith-based 501(c)3 organization Urban Awareness USA, is intended to teach urban church administrators how to locate and utilize local grant opportunities.
Register

Grantseeking Basics
Wednesday, 27 January 2010
1:00 p.m. (Eastern)
This introductory course provides an overview of the funding research process for those seeking grants from foundations, corporations, and grantmaking public charities. Also available in Spanish.
Register

The Science of Social Media Marketing
Thursday, 28 January 2010
10:00 a.m. (Pacific)
O'Reilly Media presents an hour-long free webinar with Dan Zarrella, author of The Social Media Marketing Book, including plenty of time for Q&A. Learn what drives people to share information and opinions online and learn scientifically proven best practices for spreading your content virally through social media.
Register

If you're hosting or aware of a (free) nonprofit webinar, teleconference, or other web-based professional development event for January 2010 that didn't make the list... please do leave a comment to share the details!