The star has handed over the entirety of his £25k Mercury Prize prize money to the Music Venues Trust, which functions to protect the UK's small live music spots.
Fender was presented with the cheque on 16 October as his latest record his work was declared the best record of the previous year.
Fender has decided to hand the money over to the Music Venues Trust, in appreciation of the crucial part local spots fulfilled in his initial steps.
"As an artist wouldn't be doing my current career if it wasn't for all the shows I performed around the region, and elsewhere, when I was just getting going," said Sam Fender. "These locations are renowned, but they are struggling."
From early 2023 onward, more than 150 of these locations have ceased operations – about one-sixth of the whole industry in the UK.
Over the past year, well-known musicians such as Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all backed the trust in its initiatives to keep the scene afloat, by including a minor surcharge to their admission fees, which benefits local stages.
Fender also participated, generating more than £100,000 on his live tour to support thirty-eight local spots across the UK.
The donation helped locations that were facing possible closure due to issues caused by floods, blazes and family tragedies, as well as licensing issues, legal disputes and noise complaints.
Other venues were granted funding support in upgrading amenities and technical equipment that helped musicians and concertgoers.
"The concept that funds from performances in big venues helps the independent spots, where it begins for musicians like me, is just logical," Sam Fender has commented.
The musician is far from the only musician to donate his award winnings to worthy causes.
Back when Pulp received the trophy in the year 1996 for their album Different Class, lead singer the singer declared that the band would contribute their prize money to the organization War Child.
That year, rapper and singer she divided her prize across multiple organizations, such as the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell organization.
"I also gave a £1,000 to the center, to their classes, because I trained in gymnastics when I was a child and they required better apparatus," she shared with the media.
Two years ago, Ezra Collective contributed their funds to the local youth club that nurtured their band, in addition to other local music groups.
And 1994 winners M People donated their award to a MS organization after a acquaintance was found to have the disease.
"The victory was quite enough," stated vocalist Heather Small. "The cash was the bonus but we didn't require the extra, because we had the cake. So our victory affected the lives of others."
In the past week, the MVT revealed it had protected several small stages in that region, by placing them under public stewardship.
The first in that area and the other in Bristol were acquired under the community ownership initiative, which is funded by a national body and enthusiasts who acquire "shares" in the venues.
