Category: Funding, Fellowships & Residencies

Review the grant agreement before signing to identify any intellectual property clauses that transfer ownership of your work to Yale or restrict your future publishing rights. Most Yale grants for writers and researchers include terms about IP ownership that directly impact your ability to sell, adapt, or republish your creative work after the fellowship ends.
Request written clarification from the program administrator about who owns the copyright to work produced during your fellowship period. Many prestigious grants, including those offered by Yale, default to standard university IP policies that may claim partial or full …

Understand that program-related investments (PRIs) from foundations function differently than traditional grants—they’re loans or equity investments you must repay, but they often come with more flexible terms and can fund projects that don’t fit standard grant criteria. Negotiate your intellectual property rights upfront by clearly stating in any PRI agreement that you retain full copyright and ownership of your creative work, with the foundation receiving only repayment of their investment, not a stake in your content or future earnings.
Identify PRI opportunities by researching foundations in your genre or subject …

Review grant agreements before signing to identify who owns the work you create. Most young investigator grants for writers will specify whether you retain copyright to articles, manuscripts, or research produced during the funding period, or if the granting organization claims partial or full ownership.
Request modifications to standard IP clauses that don’t align with your career goals. Many Canadian arts councils and writing foundations use template agreements, but you can often negotiate to keep first publication rights, anthology rights, or the ability to republish your work. Document all communications about these …

Secure your intellectual property rights before applying for research grants by reviewing all contract terms that address copyright ownership and future usage rights. Request amendments to standard agreements that automatically transfer your IP to the funding organization—many grant providers will negotiate terms that allow you to retain ownership while granting them limited usage rights for promotional purposes.
Document your existing work thoroughly before submitting applications. Create dated records of your research, drafts, and creative concepts to establish prior ownership. This protection proves invaluable if disputes arise…