The artist has donated the full amount of his £25,000 Mercury Prize winnings to the Music Venues Trust, which functions to preserve the Britain's independent music venues.
The star was awarded the award on mid-October as his new release his work was named the outstanding release of the last 12 months.
The musician has opted to hand the money over to the trust, in acknowledgment of the crucial part grassroots venues fulfilled in his beginning days.
"As an artist wouldn't be doing what I am doing today if it hadn't been for all the gigs I performed around the North East, and elsewhere, when I was just getting going," remarked Fender. "These spaces are iconic, but they are struggling."
Since the start of 2023, over 150 of these locations have shut down – roughly 16% of the entire UK sector.
Recently, top acts such as the band Pulp, the group Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all supported the Music Venues Trust in its efforts to support the industry, by adding a small levy to their ticket costs, which supports smaller concert halls.
Sam Fender also participated, collecting more than £100,000 on his recent tour to assist thirty-eight grassroots venues across Britain.
The donation assisted locations that were dealing with imminent closure due to challenges stemming from floods, blazes and personal losses, as well as permit problems, legal disputes and neighbor objections.
Some locations obtained funding support in upgrading amenities and technical equipment that directly benefitted musicians and concertgoers.
"The idea that funds from concerts in major spaces helps the independent spots, where it all starts for artists like me, is just logical," Fender has commented.
Fender is not the first artist to contribute his Mercury Prize funds to worthy causes.
When Pulp earned the trophy in the mid-90s for their release Different Class, frontman Jarvis Cocker declared that the band would give their prize money to the non-profit War Child.
In 2002, rapper and singer the artist divided her award across a few good causes, including the children's charity and a Sickle Cell charity.
"And I gave a thousand pounds to Highgate Newtown, to their gymnastics program, because I did gymnastics when I was a child and they lacked updated gear," the artist shared with a publication.
Two years ago, Ezra Collective donated their funds to the local youth club that nurtured their act, as well as other local music groups.
And winners that year the group contributed their winnings to a MS organization after a friend was found to have the illness.
"Winning was ample," remarked artist Small. "The cash was the cherry on top but we didn't need the cherry, because we had the cake. So our winning touched the lives of others."
Last week, the trust revealed it had saved two small stages in south-east England, by transferring them to local control.
One venue in the city and The Croft in the city were bought under the public acquisition scheme, which is supported by a national body and enthusiasts who purchase "stakes" in the venues.
