The artist has donated the complete sum of his £25k honor winnings to the Music Venues Trust, which operates to protect the United Kingdom's independent live music spots.
He was presented with the cheque on October 16 as his new release his work was named the best record of the previous year.
He has decided to give the cash to the trust, in appreciation of the crucial part grassroots venues played in his early career.
"As an artist couldn't be pursuing what I am doing today if it weren't for all the shows I performed around the region, and beyond, when I was starting out," stated the artist. "These venues are renowned, but they are facing challenges."
Since the start of 2023, at least 150 of these spaces have ceased operations – approximately one-sixth of the total UK scene.
Recently, well-known musicians such as the band Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all backed the trust in its efforts to keep the scene afloat, by including a modest fee to their ticket prices, which supports local stages.
Fender also participated, generating over £100k on his 2024 arena tour to support 38 grassroots venues across England, Scotland, and Wales.
These funds helped spaces that were dealing with potential shutdown due to difficulties caused by floods, blazes and personal losses, as well as regulatory hurdles, legal disputes and sound issues.
Other venues were granted monetary aid in upgrading facilities and technical equipment that positively impacted artists and fans.
"The concept that money from performances in major spaces supports the independent spots, where it begins for musicians like me, is just logical," Sam Fender has stated.
He is not the first artist to contribute his honor winnings to worthy causes.
Back when they received the award in 1996 for their record Different Class, lead singer Jarvis Cocker declared that the band would contribute their winnings to the non-profit War Child.
That year, musician Ms Dynamite divided her bounty among multiple organizations, like the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell organization.
"I also gave a thousand pounds to my local community centre, to their gymnastics class, because I trained in gymnastics when I was growing up and they needed better apparatus," she shared with outlets.
In recent years, Ezra Collective donated their funds to the community center that developed their group, as well as other local music groups.
Also 1994 winners M People donated their award to a multiple sclerosis charity after a acquaintance was found to have the disease.
"The victory was sufficient," said vocalist Heather Small. "The money was the extra but we didn't require the bonus, because we had the cake. So our success affected another person's life."
Last week, the MVT revealed it had saved several local spots in south-east England, by placing them under local control.
One venue in that area and the second in the city were acquired under the Own Our Venues scheme, which is funded by Arts Council England and supporters who purchase "ownership units" in the properties.
