The artist has given the entirety of his £25k award prize money to the Music Venues Trust, which works to protect the UK's independent music venues.
Fender was presented with the award on October 16 as his new release People Watching was declared the top album of the previous year.
The musician has chosen to hand the money over to the MVT, in acknowledgment of the vital role local spots fulfilled in his early career.
"I personally couldn't be pursuing this success if it hadn't been for all the performances I played around the region, and further afield, when I was beginning," remarked Sam Fender. "These spaces are iconic, but they are in difficulty."
Beginning in 2023, over 150 of these spaces have permanently closed – roughly 16% of the total UK scene.
Over the past year, top acts such as Pulp, the group Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all supported the trust in its efforts to help venues survive, by adding a small levy to their ticket prices, which goes to help smaller concert halls.
He also participated, generating over £100k on his 2024 arena tour to support 38 grassroots venues across Britain.
The money assisted venues that were confronting potential shutdown due to difficulties stemming from flooding, fires and family tragedies, as well as licensing issues, court cases and noise complaints.
Some locations were granted monetary aid in upgrading amenities and gear that directly benefitted performers and concertgoers.
"The concept that revenue from concerts in big venues helps the independent spots, where it all starts for artists like me, is just logical," the star has stated.
He is among several artists to contribute his award winnings to charitable organizations.
In the band won the prize in the mid-90s for their release their work, vocalist Cocker stated that the group would give their winnings to the charity the charity.
During 2002, musician Ms Dynamite split her bounty across several organizations, like the NSPCC and a charity for Sickle Cell.
"I also donated a grand to the center, to their gymnastics program, because I trained in gymnastics when I was a child and they needed updated gear," Ms Dynamite shared with outlets.
Two years ago, the band donated their prize money to the local youth club that supported their band, in addition to other independent music bodies.
Additionally 1994 winners the group gave their prize to a charity for MS after a friend was found to have the disease.
"The victory was quite enough," stated singer Heather Small. "The prize was the cherry on top but we didn't need the extra, because we had the cake. So our victory touched somebody else's life."
In the past week, the Music Venues Trust announced it had rescued several grassroots venues in south-east England, by bringing them into public stewardship.
The Joiners in Southampton and The Croft in that location were purchased under the community ownership initiative, which is supported by Arts Council England and supporters who acquire "stakes" in the properties.
