The star has donated the complete sum of his twenty-five thousand pound award cash to the Music Venues Trust, which functions to save the UK's small concert spaces.
Fender was awarded the award on 16 October as his third album People Watching was declared the best record of the last 12 months.
He has chosen to donate the funds to the MVT, in acknowledgment of the crucial part local spots had in his initial steps.
"I personally couldn't be pursuing this success if it wasn't for all the performances I performed around the region, and beyond, when I was starting out," remarked Sam Fender. "These spaces are renowned, but they are facing challenges."
From early 2023 onward, at least 150 of these spaces have ceased operations – about 16% of the total UK scene.
Recently, major artists like the band Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all aided the MVT in its efforts to keep the scene afloat, by applying a modest fee to their ticket costs, which supports independent venues.
He also took part, raising over £100k on his 2024 arena tour to support 38 grassroots venues across Britain.
The donation helped locations that were dealing with potential shutdown due to difficulties arising from floods, fire incidents and bereavements, as well as regulatory hurdles, court cases and noise complaints.
Other venues were granted funding support in modernizing facilities and technical equipment that positively impacted performers and concertgoers.
"The notion that funds from concerts in major spaces backs the smaller venues, where it begins for musicians like me, is just sensible," the star has commented.
He is far from the only musician to give his Mercury Prize prize money to worthy causes.
In Pulp won the award in 1996 for their release the album, frontman Jarvis Cocker stated that the act would contribute their winnings to the charity War Child.
During 2002, rapper and singer she shared her award across multiple good causes, such as the children's charity and a Sickle Cell organization.
"I also donated a thousand pounds to the center, to their classes, because I practiced gymnastics when I was growing up and they lacked updated gear," she told outlets.
In recent years, Ezra Collective contributed their funds to the community center that supported their group, in addition to other grassroots music organisations.
Also 1994 winners the group contributed their award to a multiple sclerosis charity after a acquaintance was found to have the condition.
"Winning was sufficient," said singer the singer. "The money was the extra but we didn't require the bonus, because we had the honor. So our winning affected somebody else's life."
Recently, the MVT announced it had rescued a couple of local spots in south-east England, by transferring them to local control.
One venue in the city and the other in the city were bought under the Own Our Venues initiative, which is funded by the arts council and enthusiasts who buy "ownership units" in the properties.
