The artist has handed over the entirety of his twenty-five thousand pound honor winnings to the trust for venues, which works to protect the United Kingdom's independent live music spots.
Fender was given the cheque on 16 October as his third album People Watching was named the best record of the last 12 months.
He has decided to hand the money over to the MVT, in recognition of the crucial part grassroots venues had in his beginning days.
"I wouldn't be doing my current career if it weren't for all the shows I did around the North East, and elsewhere, when I was beginning," said Fender. "These spaces are renowned, but they are facing challenges."
From early 2023 onward, at least 150 of these spaces have ceased operations – about one-sixth of the entire UK sector.
Over the past year, top acts including the band Pulp, the group Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all aided the trust in its efforts to help venues survive, by applying a small levy to their admission fees, which supports smaller concert halls.
Fender also joined in, collecting over £100k on his 2024 arena tour to help thirty-eight local spots across Britain.
The donation assisted venues that were dealing with potential shutdown due to challenges arising from flooding, blazes and personal losses, as well as permit problems, conflicts and noise complaints.
Other venues were granted monetary aid in improving infrastructure and gear that positively impacted artists and audiences.
"The idea that funds from shows in large arenas helps the smaller venues, where it all starts for artists like me, is just sensible," Sam Fender has stated.
He is among several artists to donate his Mercury Prize prize money to charitable organizations.
Back when they received the prize in 1996 for their album their work, frontman Cocker stated that the act would give their prize money to the charity the charity.
During 2002, artist the artist split her bounty among multiple charities, like the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell organization.
"And I contributed a thousand pounds to my local community centre, to their gymnastics program, because I practiced gymnastics when I was younger and they required new equipment," she shared with outlets.
Two years ago, they contributed their winnings to the local youth club that nurtured their group, alongside other grassroots music organisations.
And the 1994 recipients M People contributed their winnings to a charity for MS after a close contact was diagnosed the condition.
"Receiving the award was quite enough," said vocalist Small. "The money was the extra but we didn't require the cherry, because we had the cake. So our victory touched the lives of others."
Recently, the Music Venues Trust revealed it had saved several local spots in the South East, by bringing them into local control.
The first in that area and the other in Bristol were purchased under the Own Our Venues scheme, which is backed by the arts council and enthusiasts who purchase "stakes" in the venues.
