The artist has donated the full amount of his £25k honor prize money to the Music Venues Trust, which operates to preserve the UK's grassroots concert spaces.
Fender was presented with the award on mid-October as his new release the album was chosen as the top album of the last 12 months.
He has decided to give the cash to the MVT, in appreciation of the vital role small stages had in his early career.
"As an artist couldn't be pursuing this success if it wasn't for all the shows I did around the North East, and beyond, when I was beginning," remarked Sam Fender. "These locations are renowned, but they are in difficulty."
Since the start of 2023, over 150 of these spaces have permanently closed – approximately 16 percent of the whole industry in the UK.
In the last year, major artists including Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all backed the MVT in its attempts to help venues survive, by adding a minor surcharge to their admission fees, which benefits independent venues.
He also took part, collecting over £100k on his 2024 arena tour to help numerous small stages across Britain.
The donation assisted spaces that were confronting imminent closure due to issues arising from floods, fire incidents and bereavements, as well as licensing issues, conflicts and neighbor objections.
Some locations received financial assistance in improving amenities and technical equipment that positively impacted musicians and concertgoers.
"The concept that revenue from performances in major spaces backs the smaller venues, where it all starts for musicians like me, is just common sense," the star has stated.
He is not the first artist to contribute his honor prize money to good deeds.
Back when they earned the award in the year 1996 for their record Different Class, vocalist the singer stated that the act would contribute their cash to the organization War Child.
During 2002, musician she shared her prize across a few good causes, like the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell organization.
"And I gave a grand to my local community centre, to their gymnastics program, because I trained in gymnastics when I was growing up and they lacked new equipment," the artist shared with a publication.
Previously, Ezra Collective gave their winnings to the youth organization that nurtured their group, in addition to other local music groups.
Additionally winners that year M People gave their prize to a MS organization after a friend was diagnosed the condition.
"Receiving the award was quite enough," stated singer Heather Small. "The cash was the cherry on top but we didn't require the extra, because we had the main prize. So our victory touched somebody else's life."
Recently, the trust announced it had saved several local spots in the South East, by bringing them into public stewardship.
The first in Southampton and the other in Bristol were acquired under the Own Our Venues program, which is backed by Arts Council England and enthusiasts who purchase "stakes" in the venues.
