The artist has handed over the entirety of his £25,000 honor winnings to the MVT, which operates to preserve the Britain's grassroots concert spaces.
He was given the cheque on October 16 as his new release the album was named the best record of the previous year.
He has decided to hand the money over to the trust, in appreciation of the crucial part grassroots venues had in his early career.
"I personally would not have achieved this success if it weren't for all the shows I performed around the region, and elsewhere, when I was beginning," remarked Sam Fender. "These venues are iconic, but they are in difficulty."
Since the start of 2023, more than 150 of these spaces have shut down – roughly 16% of the whole industry in the UK.
In the last year, well-known musicians like Pulp, the group Coldplay, Katy Perry and Sheeran have all supported the trust in its initiatives to help venues survive, by adding a modest fee to their ticket costs, which goes to help local stages.
He also participated, raising over £100k on his 2024 arena tour to assist numerous small stages across England, Scotland, and Wales.
The donation assisted spaces that were confronting imminent closure due to challenges stemming from water damage, fires and bereavements, as well as permit problems, court cases and noise complaints.
Additional spaces received funding support in improving facilities and technical equipment that directly benefitted artists and fans.
"The notion that revenue from performances in big venues helps the independent spots, where it kicks off for performers like me, is just logical," Fender has stated.
Fender is among several artists to contribute his Mercury Prize funds to charitable organizations.
When the band received the trophy in the year 1996 for their release their work, vocalist Cocker announced that the group would contribute their prize money to the organization War Child.
That year, artist she divided her prize between several organizations, such as the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell organization.
"Additionally, I gave a thousand pounds to the center, to their classes, because I trained in gymnastics when I was growing up and they lacked new equipment," she told outlets.
Previously, they contributed their winnings to the local youth club that supported their group, alongside other local music groups.
And the 1994 recipients M People donated their prize to a charity for MS after a friend was identified with the condition.
"The victory was sufficient," remarked artist Small. "The cash was the cherry on top but we could do without the bonus, because we had the main prize. So our victory touched another person's life."
Recently, the MVT shared it had saved a couple of small stages in that region, by bringing them into community ownership.
The first in the city and The Croft in Bristol were purchased under the public acquisition scheme, which is supported by Arts Council England and enthusiasts who purchase "stakes" in the properties.
