The artist has donated the entirety of his £25k Mercury Prize cash to the Music Venues Trust, which works to save the United Kingdom's small music venues.
Fender was presented with the prize on mid-October as his new release People Watching was declared the outstanding release of the last 12 months.
The musician has decided to hand the money over to the Music Venues Trust, in appreciation of the crucial part small stages fulfilled in his initial steps.
"As an artist wouldn't be doing my current career if it wasn't for all the performances I did around the area, and further afield, when I was beginning," remarked the artist. "These venues are legendary, but they are struggling."
From early 2023 onward, at least 150 of these venues have permanently closed – about 16% of the whole industry in the UK.
Over the past year, major artists such as the band Pulp, the group Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all backed the MVT in its efforts to keep the scene afloat, by including a small levy to their ticket costs, which benefits smaller concert halls.
He also participated, generating more than £100,000 on his recent tour to assist 38 local spots across England, Scotland, and Wales.
The money assisted venues that were dealing with possible closure due to issues arising from flooding, blazes and personal losses, as well as regulatory hurdles, court cases and noise complaints.
Additional spaces were granted financial assistance in improving facilities and gear that positively impacted performers and concertgoers.
"The concept that money from concerts in major spaces backs the independent spots, where it all starts for musicians like me, is just logical," Sam Fender has commented.
Fender is far from the only musician to contribute his Mercury Prize funds to charitable organizations.
In Pulp received the trophy in the year 1996 for their release Different Class, vocalist the singer stated that the group would donate their winnings to the non-profit War Child.
In 2002, musician Ms Dynamite divided her prize among several organizations, like the children's charity and a charity for Sickle Cell.
"And I donated a grand to my local community centre, to their gymnastics program, because I practiced gymnastics when I was younger and they required new equipment," she shared with a publication.
Previously, Ezra Collective donated their prize money to the youth organization that supported their group, as well as other independent music bodies.
Also 1994 winners they contributed their prize to a MS organization after a friend was diagnosed the disease.
"Winning was sufficient," remarked vocalist Small. "The prize was the cherry on top but we could do without the bonus, because we had the cake. So our success touched another person's life."
In the past week, the MVT announced it had rescued two grassroots venues in the South East, by transferring them to public stewardship.
The first in that area and the other in Bristol were bought under the community ownership initiative, which is backed by the arts council and enthusiasts who buy "shares" in the venues.
