The artist has given the full amount of his £25,000 Mercury Prize cash to the Music Venues Trust, which functions to protect the United Kingdom's grassroots music venues.
The star was presented with the cheque on 16 October as his third album People Watching was named the outstanding release of the last 12 months.
He has opted to donate the funds to the MVT, in acknowledgment of the crucial part grassroots venues fulfilled in his early career.
"I personally couldn't be pursuing this success if it hadn't been for all the shows I did around the area, and elsewhere, when I was beginning," said Fender. "These spaces are renowned, but they are struggling."
Beginning in 2023, at least 150 of these spaces have shut down – roughly 16% of the total UK scene.
Over the past year, well-known musicians including Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all backed the trust in its efforts to help venues survive, by applying a modest fee to their admission fees, which goes to help independent venues.
He also participated, collecting in excess of £100,000 on his live tour to assist numerous grassroots venues across England, Scotland, and Wales.
The donation supported venues that were facing possible closure due to issues stemming from water damage, fire incidents and bereavements, as well as licensing issues, conflicts and neighbor objections.
Some locations received monetary aid in upgrading infrastructure and gear that positively impacted artists and fans.
"The notion that funds from shows in big venues helps the local stages, where it all starts for musicians like me, is just sensible," the star has said.
He is among several artists to donate his award funds to worthy causes.
In Pulp won the prize in the mid-90s for their record Different Class, lead singer Cocker stated that the group would donate their prize money to the non-profit War Child.
During 2002, artist the artist split her award between several good causes, including the children's charity and a Sickle Cell organization.
"Additionally, I donated a thousand pounds to my local community centre, to their gymnastics class, because I trained in gymnastics when I was growing up and they required better apparatus," the artist shared with outlets.
Previously, the band donated their winnings to the local youth club that developed their act, alongside other grassroots music organisations.
And the 1994 recipients M People gave their prize to a charity for MS after a friend was found to have the condition.
"The victory was sufficient," said artist Small. "The cash was the bonus but we didn't need the cherry, because we had the main prize. So our success touched the lives of others."
In the past week, the trust announced it had protected several grassroots venues in south-east England, by placing them under local control.
The Joiners in Southampton and The Croft in that location were purchased under the public acquisition initiative, which is supported by the arts council and enthusiasts who buy "stakes" in the buildings.
