The artist has handed over the entirety of his £25k honor winnings to the MVT, which functions to protect the United Kingdom's grassroots live music spots.
He was presented with the prize on 16 October as his latest record People Watching was declared the best record of the past year.
Fender has chosen to donate the funds to the MVT, in acknowledgment of the essential function grassroots venues fulfilled in his early career.
"I personally wouldn't be doing what I am doing today if it wasn't for all the shows I did around the region, and beyond, when I was just getting going," remarked the artist. "These spaces are iconic, but they are facing challenges."
From early 2023 onward, more than 150 of these spaces have ceased operations – approximately 16% of the whole industry in the UK.
Recently, top acts including Pulp, the group Coldplay, Katy Perry and Sheeran have all backed the trust in its initiatives to help venues survive, by adding a minor surcharge to their ticket prices, which benefits smaller concert halls.
Sam Fender also joined in, generating in excess of £100,000 on his live tour to help numerous grassroots venues across England, Scotland, and Wales.
The money assisted spaces that were confronting possible closure due to challenges arising from flooding, fires and personal losses, as well as permit problems, court cases and noise complaints.
Additional spaces were granted financial assistance in modernizing infrastructure and technical equipment that directly benefitted performers and audiences.
"The notion that revenue from performances in big venues helps the smaller venues, where it begins for artists like me, is just logical," Sam Fender has said.
He is among several artists to donate his Mercury Prize funds to charitable organizations.
Back when Pulp received the trophy in the year 1996 for their release their work, lead singer Jarvis Cocker stated that the band would contribute their cash to the charity War Child.
During 2002, rapper and singer she shared her award among a few organizations, like the children's charity and a charity for Sickle Cell.
"Additionally, I contributed a thousand pounds to my local community centre, to their classes, because I did gymnastics when I was growing up and they lacked updated gear," she shared with a publication.
Previously, they gave their winnings to the local youth club that nurtured their act, as well as other independent music bodies.
And 1994 winners they donated their prize to a charity for MS after a friend was found to have the disease.
"Winning was ample," remarked vocalist Heather Small. "The money was the extra but we didn't require the extra, because we had the cake. So our winning impacted somebody else's life."
In the past week, the Music Venues Trust shared it had saved a couple of small stages in the South East, by placing them under community ownership.
The first in that area and The Croft in that location were purchased under the Own Our Venues scheme, which is supported by Arts Council England and enthusiasts who buy "ownership units" in the venues.
