The artist has given the complete sum of his £25k Mercury Prize winnings to the trust for venues, which works to preserve the United Kingdom's grassroots music venues.
Fender was awarded the cheque on October 16 as his latest record People Watching was declared the outstanding release of the past year.
Fender has decided to hand the money over to the MVT, in acknowledgment of the vital role grassroots venues had in his beginning days.
"As an artist would not have achieved what I am doing today if it weren't for all the shows I did around the North East, and further afield, when I was beginning," stated Sam Fender. "These spaces are renowned, but they are in difficulty."
Beginning in 2023, over 150 of these spaces have permanently closed – approximately one-sixth of the total UK scene.
Recently, major artists such as Pulp, the group Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all backed the MVT in its attempts to support the industry, by adding a modest fee to their ticket prices, which benefits independent venues.
Fender also joined in, raising over £100k on his 2024 arena tour to help numerous local spots across Britain.
These funds helped venues that were confronting possible closure due to challenges arising from water damage, fire incidents and family tragedies, as well as permit problems, court cases and neighbor objections.
Some locations received funding support in modernizing facilities and sound and lighting systems that directly benefitted performers and fans.
"The concept that revenue from performances in major spaces helps the local stages, where it begins for performers like me, is just logical," Sam Fender has stated.
He is not the first artist to contribute his award funds to good deeds.
Back when they earned the prize in 1996 for their record Different Class, frontman the singer declared that the group would contribute their winnings to the charity War Child.
During 2002, artist Ms Dynamite split her bounty between several good causes, such as the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell organization.
"And I donated a grand to Highgate Newtown, to their gymnastics class, because I did gymnastics when I was younger and they required new equipment," Ms Dynamite explained to a publication.
Two years ago, the band contributed their prize money to the local youth club that supported their band, alongside other independent music bodies.
Also the 1994 recipients M People contributed their prize to a multiple sclerosis charity after a acquaintance was identified with the disease.
"Receiving the award was ample," remarked artist Small. "The prize was the cherry on top but we could do without the extra, because we had the main prize. So our victory affected the lives of others."
Recently, the Music Venues Trust announced it had saved a couple of grassroots venues in the South East, by placing them under public stewardship.
The Joiners in the city and the second in Bristol were bought under the public acquisition initiative, which is backed by Arts Council England and music fans who buy "shares" in the properties.
