The artist has donated the entirety of his £25k honor prize money to the Music Venues Trust, which operates to protect the United Kingdom's independent music venues.
Fender was awarded the award on October 16 as his new release People Watching was chosen as the top album of the past year.
He has opted to give the cash to the Music Venues Trust, in appreciation of the essential function local spots had in his early career.
"As an artist couldn't be pursuing my current career if it hadn't been for all the performances I performed around the North East, and elsewhere, when I was beginning," stated Fender. "These locations are iconic, but they are facing challenges."
Since the start of 2023, over 150 of these venues have shut down – approximately 16% of the entire UK sector.
Over the past year, major artists such as the band Pulp, Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Sheeran have all aided the Music Venues Trust in its initiatives to keep the scene afloat, by including a minor surcharge to their ticket costs, which goes to help independent venues.
He also joined in, collecting more than £100,000 on his 2024 arena tour to assist thirty-eight small stages across Britain.
The money supported locations that were dealing with possible closure due to challenges caused by water damage, fires and personal losses, as well as permit problems, legal disputes and noise complaints.
Additional spaces were granted funding support in upgrading amenities and sound and lighting systems that directly benefitted performers and audiences.
"The notion that revenue from shows in big venues supports the smaller venues, where it kicks off for performers like me, is just logical," Sam Fender has said.
Fender is far from the only musician to give his Mercury Prize prize money to worthy causes.
Back when Pulp won the award in 1996 for their album the album, vocalist the singer stated that the band would contribute their cash to the organization the charity.
In 2002, musician Ms Dynamite divided her prize across several charities, like the NSPCC and a charity for Sickle Cell.
"I also gave a grand to Highgate Newtown, to their gymnastics class, because I trained in gymnastics when I was a child and they required updated gear," Ms Dynamite explained to a publication.
Previously, they donated their winnings to the community center that supported their group, alongside other independent music bodies.
Also the 1994 recipients the group contributed their prize to a MS organization after a close contact was diagnosed the condition.
"Receiving the award was sufficient," stated singer Heather Small. "The prize was the cherry on top but we could do without the cherry, because we had the cake. So our success impacted somebody else's life."
Recently, the Music Venues Trust announced it had saved several grassroots venues in south-east England, by transferring them to community ownership.
The Joiners in that area and the other in Bristol were purchased under the Own Our Venues scheme, which is supported by a national body and enthusiasts who buy "shares" in the venues.
