The artist has donated the complete sum of his £25k Mercury Prize prize money to the Music Venues Trust, which operates to protect the United Kingdom's grassroots concert spaces.
The star was given the prize on mid-October as his latest record People Watching was named the outstanding release of the past year.
He has chosen to hand the money over to the trust, in acknowledgment of the crucial part small stages had in his initial steps.
"As an artist wouldn't be doing this success if it wasn't for all the shows I played around the area, and beyond, when I was just getting going," stated Fender. "These locations are legendary, but they are facing challenges."
Since the start of 2023, 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 Pulp, Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Sheeran have all supported the trust in its initiatives to keep the scene afloat, by applying a minor surcharge to their admission fees, which goes to help local stages.
He also took part, generating more than £100,000 on his recent tour to assist numerous local spots across England, Scotland, and Wales.
These funds assisted locations that were facing potential shutdown due to difficulties stemming from flooding, fires and bereavements, as well as licensing issues, legal disputes and sound issues.
Other venues obtained funding support in modernizing infrastructure and gear that directly benefitted musicians and audiences.
"The concept that revenue from concerts in major spaces backs the independent spots, where it begins for performers like me, is just common sense," Sam Fender has said.
The musician is not the first artist to contribute his award prize money to worthy causes.
Back when they received the prize in the year 1996 for their release Different Class, frontman Jarvis Cocker stated that the act would give their cash to the organization War Child.
In 2002, artist she split her award between multiple organizations, including the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell organization.
"Additionally, I donated a grand to the center, to their gymnastics class, because I practiced gymnastics when I was growing up and they lacked updated gear," she explained to the media.
In recent years, the band contributed their funds to the local youth club that nurtured their band, alongside other grassroots music organisations.
And winners that year M People gave their prize to a MS organization after a friend was diagnosed the condition.
"The victory was ample," stated artist the singer. "The money was the extra but we didn't require the cherry, because we had the honor. So our winning affected the lives of others."
Recently, the Music Venues Trust announced it had rescued several small stages in the South East, by bringing them into public stewardship.
One venue in Southampton and The Croft in that location were acquired under the public acquisition scheme, which is backed by the arts council and enthusiasts who purchase "ownership units" in the properties.
