The star has given the entirety of his £25,000 award prize money to the trust for venues, which functions to preserve the United Kingdom's independent concert spaces.
He was presented with the cheque on October 16 as his new release People Watching was declared the top album of the past year.
He has opted to give the cash to the Music Venues Trust, in acknowledgment of the vital role grassroots venues fulfilled in his beginning days.
"I wouldn't be doing what I am doing today if it wasn't for all the gigs I played around the region, and beyond, when I was beginning," stated the artist. "These venues are renowned, but they are in difficulty."
Beginning in 2023, over 150 of these spaces have shut down – roughly 16 percent of the entire UK sector.
In the last year, top acts like Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Sheeran have all aided the MVT in its initiatives to help venues survive, by including a small levy to their ticket prices, which benefits independent venues.
Fender also participated, collecting more than £100,000 on his recent tour to assist thirty-eight grassroots venues across Britain.
The money supported venues that were dealing with possible closure due to difficulties arising from water damage, blazes and bereavements, as well as regulatory hurdles, conflicts and sound issues.
Additional spaces were granted funding support in upgrading amenities and sound and lighting systems that directly benefitted performers and fans.
"The idea that revenue from shows in major spaces backs the independent spots, where it kicks off for performers like me, is just common sense," the star has said.
The musician is among several artists to donate his honor winnings to good deeds.
Back when they received the award in the mid-90s for their album Different Class, lead singer Jarvis Cocker stated that the act would give their prize money to the non-profit War Child.
During 2002, artist she shared her award among multiple organizations, such as the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell organization.
"And I gave a £1,000 to Highgate Newtown, to their classes, because I trained in gymnastics when I was growing up and they lacked new equipment," she told a publication.
Two years ago, Ezra Collective contributed their funds to the community center that nurtured their band, as well as other local music groups.
Also 1994 winners the group donated their prize to a MS organization after a close contact was identified with the condition.
"Winning was sufficient," stated singer Heather Small. "The money was the cherry on top but we didn't require the cherry, because we had the main prize. So our winning impacted another person's life."
In the past week, the trust shared it had rescued a couple of small stages in the South East, by transferring them to community ownership.
The Joiners in that area and The Croft in the city were purchased under the public acquisition initiative, which is backed by a national body and enthusiasts who buy "ownership units" in the venues.
