The artist has given the entirety of his £25k Mercury Prize cash to the Music Venues Trust, which operates to save the United Kingdom's grassroots music venues.
He was given the prize on mid-October as his latest record People Watching was chosen as the outstanding release of the past year.
Fender has opted to hand the money over to the Music Venues Trust, in recognition of the essential function grassroots venues had in his initial steps.
"As an artist wouldn't be doing this success if it wasn't for all the gigs I did around the region, and beyond, when I was just getting going," remarked Sam Fender. "These spaces are iconic, but they are in difficulty."
From early 2023 onward, at least 150 of these locations have permanently closed – approximately 16 percent of the total UK scene.
Recently, major artists including Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Sheeran have all supported the Music Venues Trust in its initiatives to support the industry, by applying a modest fee to their ticket prices, which goes to help smaller concert halls.
Sam Fender also participated, generating more than £100,000 on his 2024 arena tour to support 38 small stages across England, Scotland, and Wales.
The donation supported locations that were facing potential shutdown due to challenges arising from water damage, fires and family tragedies, as well as permit problems, court cases and neighbor objections.
Some locations were granted funding support in improving amenities and technical equipment that helped artists and audiences.
"The idea that money from shows in large arenas helps the independent spots, where it begins for artists like me, is just sensible," the star has said.
He is not the first artist to contribute his Mercury Prize prize money to charitable organizations.
In Pulp received the award in the year 1996 for their record Different Class, frontman the singer declared that the group would give their winnings to the non-profit War Child.
In 2002, rapper and singer Ms Dynamite shared her prize between a few good causes, including the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell organization.
"I also donated a grand to Highgate Newtown, to their classes, because I practiced gymnastics when I was a child and they required updated gear," she explained to a publication.
In recent years, they gave their winnings to the community center that nurtured their band, as well as other independent music bodies.
Additionally 1994 winners they contributed their winnings to a MS organization after a acquaintance was identified with the condition.
"Winning was sufficient," said artist the singer. "The cash was the bonus but we didn't require the extra, because we had the cake. So our success affected another person's life."
Recently, the trust shared it had protected a couple of grassroots venues in the South East, by placing them under community ownership.
The first in Southampton and the other in Bristol were acquired under the community ownership scheme, which is backed by a national body and music fans who buy "ownership units" in the properties.
