The star has given the complete sum of his £25,000 Mercury Prize prize money to the Music Venues Trust, which operates to protect the Britain's grassroots concert spaces.
Fender was given the award on October 16 as his new release the album was declared the outstanding release of the previous year.
The musician has decided to donate the funds to the Music Venues Trust, in appreciation of the vital role small stages had in his early career.
"I personally couldn't be pursuing this success if it wasn't for all the shows I did around the area, and beyond, when I was beginning," remarked the artist. "These venues are iconic, but they are in difficulty."
Since the start of 2023, over 150 of these venues have permanently closed – roughly one-sixth of the entire UK sector.
Recently, top acts like the band Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all aided the trust in its initiatives to support the industry, by applying a modest fee to their admission fees, which goes to help smaller concert halls.
Fender also took part, collecting over £100k on his 2024 arena tour to assist thirty-eight small stages across the UK.
These funds helped locations that were facing potential shutdown due to issues stemming from water damage, fire incidents and family tragedies, as well as licensing issues, court cases and noise complaints.
Other venues obtained funding support in modernizing amenities and technical equipment that directly benefitted performers and audiences.
"The notion that funds from shows in major spaces backs the smaller venues, where it begins for musicians like me, is just common sense," Fender has said.
The musician is among several artists to contribute his Mercury Prize funds to good deeds.
When the band received the prize in the mid-90s for their record their work, lead singer Cocker stated that the act would contribute their cash to the organization War Child.
That year, artist she divided her award among a few organizations, including the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell organization.
"I also donated a grand to my local community centre, to their classes, because I did gymnastics when I was growing up and they needed better apparatus," she explained to outlets.
Two years ago, Ezra Collective contributed their winnings to the local youth club that supported their band, in addition to other grassroots music organisations.
Also winners that year they donated their prize to a charity for MS after a acquaintance was found to have the condition.
"Winning was sufficient," said vocalist Heather Small. "The money was the cherry on top but we didn't need the cherry, because we had the main prize. So our success affected the lives of others."
Recently, the trust shared it had rescued two small stages in the South East, by bringing them into local control.
One venue in that area and The Croft in the city were purchased under the public acquisition program, which is supported by the arts council and music fans who buy "stakes" in the properties.
