The artist has given the complete sum of his £25,000 Mercury Prize winnings to the trust for venues, which functions to save the Britain's independent concert spaces.
He was given the cheque on October 16 as his new release People Watching was declared the best record of the previous year.
The musician has chosen to donate the funds to the MVT, in acknowledgment of the essential function grassroots venues fulfilled in his beginning days.
"I would not have achieved my current career if it hadn't been for all the performances I performed around the area, and elsewhere, when I was just getting going," said the artist. "These locations are renowned, but they are struggling."
Since the start of 2023, at least 150 of these locations have permanently closed – about one-sixth of the total UK scene.
In the last year, top acts like Pulp, the group Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all backed the Music Venues Trust in its efforts to support the industry, by adding a minor surcharge to their admission fees, which supports independent venues.
Fender also participated, generating over £100k on his live tour to assist thirty-eight local spots across the UK.
These funds supported venues that were confronting possible closure due to challenges arising from floods, blazes and bereavements, as well as licensing issues, conflicts and neighbor objections.
Other venues were granted funding support in improving infrastructure and gear that helped artists and concertgoers.
"The concept that money from concerts in big venues supports the smaller venues, where it all starts for artists like me, is just sensible," Fender has stated.
Fender is not the first artist to give his Mercury Prize prize money to worthy causes.
Back when they received the trophy in the mid-90s for their album Different Class, frontman the singer declared that the act would donate their prize money to the non-profit War Child.
In 2002, musician the artist divided her bounty among several charities, like the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell organization.
"Additionally, I donated a thousand pounds to Highgate Newtown, to their gymnastics program, because I trained in gymnastics when I was a child and they required better apparatus," she explained to the media.
Two years ago, the band gave their prize money to the community center that supported their act, alongside other grassroots music organisations.
Additionally 1994 winners the group gave their winnings to a charity for MS after a acquaintance was found to have the condition.
"Winning was quite enough," remarked vocalist the singer. "The money was the bonus but we could do without the cherry, because we had the honor. So our victory affected the lives of others."
Recently, the trust revealed it had saved a couple of small stages in the South East, by placing them under public stewardship.
One venue in the city and the second in Bristol were bought under the Own Our Venues initiative, which is backed by the arts council and music fans who acquire "shares" in the properties.
