The artist has handed over the full amount of his £25k honor prize money to the Music Venues Trust, which works to save the United Kingdom's grassroots concert spaces.
He was awarded the award on mid-October as his new release People Watching was declared the top album of the last 12 months.
Fender has chosen to give the cash to the Music Venues Trust, in appreciation of the crucial part small stages played in his initial steps.
"As an artist wouldn't be doing this success if it wasn't for all the performances I performed around the North East, and beyond, when I was just getting going," said Sam Fender. "These spaces are renowned, but they are facing challenges."
Beginning in 2023, more than 150 of these venues have permanently closed – roughly 16% of the entire UK sector.
Over the past year, well-known musicians including Pulp, Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Sheeran have all supported the Music Venues Trust in its efforts to support the industry, by including a minor surcharge to their admission fees, which supports independent venues.
Fender also participated, raising in excess of £100,000 on his 2024 arena tour to assist 38 small stages across England, Scotland, and Wales.
The donation supported locations that were facing potential shutdown due to issues caused by water damage, fire incidents and family tragedies, as well as licensing issues, conflicts and neighbor objections.
Additional spaces were granted monetary aid in upgrading facilities and sound and lighting systems that positively impacted artists and audiences.
"The notion that money from shows in major spaces helps the smaller venues, where it kicks off for musicians like me, is just logical," the star has stated.
He is among several artists to donate his award winnings to charitable organizations.
When Pulp won the prize in the mid-90s for their album Different Class, vocalist Cocker announced that the act would donate their prize money to the charity War Child.
That year, rapper and singer she split her bounty among several charities, such as the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell organization.
"And I gave a grand to the center, to their gymnastics program, because I did gymnastics when I was younger and they lacked new equipment," Ms Dynamite explained to the media.
Previously, they contributed their winnings to the youth organization that supported their band, in addition to other local music groups.
Also the 1994 recipients they contributed their prize to a charity for MS after a friend was diagnosed the illness.
"The victory was quite enough," remarked artist Heather Small. "The prize was the bonus but we didn't need the cherry, because we had the honor. So our victory affected the lives of others."
In the past week, the Music Venues Trust shared it had rescued a couple of local spots in the South East, by bringing them into public stewardship.
One venue in that area and The Croft in that location were acquired under the public acquisition scheme, which is backed by the arts council and enthusiasts who buy "ownership units" in the venues.
