The artist has donated the complete sum of his twenty-five thousand pound honor cash to the Music Venues Trust, which operates to protect the Britain's grassroots concert spaces.
The star was presented with the prize on October 16 as his latest record People Watching was chosen as the top album of the last 12 months.
The musician has opted to donate the funds to the MVT, in recognition of the essential function small stages played in his beginning days.
"I personally couldn't be pursuing my current career if it wasn't for all the gigs I played around the region, and further afield, when I was just getting going," remarked the artist. "These locations are iconic, but they are facing challenges."
From early 2023 onward, over 150 of these venues have permanently closed – roughly 16% of the entire UK sector.
In the last year, top acts including Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all supported the trust in its initiatives to keep the scene afloat, by applying a small levy to their admission fees, which supports smaller concert halls.
Fender also joined in, collecting over £100k on his recent tour to assist thirty-eight small stages across Britain.
These funds helped spaces that were facing potential shutdown due to issues arising from water damage, fire incidents and personal losses, as well as permit problems, conflicts and neighbor objections.
Some locations were granted funding support in modernizing amenities and sound and lighting systems that helped performers and audiences.
"The idea that money from shows in large arenas helps the independent spots, where it all starts for musicians like me, is just common sense," Fender has commented.
The musician is among several artists to donate his honor funds to charitable organizations.
Back when they earned the award in the year 1996 for their record Different Class, frontman Cocker announced that the band would give their winnings to the non-profit the charity.
During 2002, artist Ms Dynamite split her prize between multiple charities, including the children's charity and a charity for Sickle Cell.
"Additionally, I donated a grand to the center, to their gymnastics class, because I practiced gymnastics when I was growing up and they lacked new equipment," the artist shared with a publication.
Previously, Ezra Collective donated their funds to the community center that developed their group, in addition to other grassroots music organisations.
Additionally winners that year M People contributed their award to a multiple sclerosis charity after a friend was identified with the disease.
"Winning was sufficient," remarked vocalist Small. "The cash was the extra but we didn't need the bonus, because we had the main prize. So our winning affected somebody else's life."
Recently, the MVT revealed it had rescued two small stages in south-east England, by bringing them into local control.
One venue in Southampton and the other in that location were acquired under the Own Our Venues initiative, which is backed by Arts Council England and enthusiasts who acquire "ownership units" in the buildings.
