The artist has given the entirety of his £25k honor prize money to the Music Venues Trust, which functions to protect the United Kingdom's independent concert spaces.
Fender was presented with the cheque on 16 October as his new release People Watching was named the best record of the previous year.
The musician has opted to donate the funds to the MVT, in appreciation of the vital role grassroots venues played in his early career.
"I personally couldn't be pursuing this success if it wasn't for all the gigs I did around the North East, and elsewhere, when I was starting out," remarked the artist. "These venues are legendary, but they are in difficulty."
Since the start of 2023, at least 150 of these venues have permanently closed – roughly 16 percent of the whole industry in the UK.
In the last year, well-known musicians like Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Sheeran have all backed the Music Venues Trust in its initiatives to keep the scene afloat, by adding a small levy to their ticket prices, which goes to help local stages.
Fender also participated, generating in excess of £100,000 on his 2024 arena tour to help thirty-eight small stages across the UK.
The donation assisted locations that were facing imminent closure due to issues stemming from floods, fires and family tragedies, as well as permit problems, conflicts and neighbor objections.
Other venues received funding support in improving infrastructure and gear that helped artists and audiences.
"The concept that funds from concerts in big venues supports the smaller venues, where it begins for artists like me, is just sensible," Sam Fender has said.
He is far from the only musician to give his award winnings to worthy causes.
In Pulp received the prize in 1996 for their album their work, frontman Jarvis Cocker declared that the group would give their prize money to the charity War Child.
In 2002, musician Ms Dynamite divided her bounty across a few good causes, including the children's charity and a Sickle Cell organization.
"And I contributed a £1,000 to my local community centre, to their classes, because I trained in gymnastics when I was younger and they required new equipment," Ms Dynamite told the media.
Two years ago, Ezra Collective gave their funds to the local youth club that supported their band, in addition to other independent music bodies.
Additionally the 1994 recipients they contributed their prize to a charity for MS after a acquaintance was found to have the illness.
"Receiving the award was quite enough," remarked vocalist Small. "The money was the extra but we could do without the extra, because we had the cake. So our success affected the lives of others."
Last week, the Music Venues Trust shared it had protected two grassroots venues in the South East, by bringing them into public stewardship.
One venue in the city and the second in Bristol were acquired under the public acquisition initiative, which is funded by a national body and music fans who purchase "stakes" in the properties.
