Sam Fender has given the entirety of his £25k award prize money to the MVT, which works to protect the Britain's small concert spaces.
He was awarded the cheque on mid-October as his latest record the album was named the top album of the previous year.
He has opted to hand the money over to the Music Venues Trust, in recognition of the crucial part small stages had in his initial steps.
"I couldn't be pursuing my current career if it weren't for all the performances I did around the North East, and further afield, when I was just getting going," stated the artist. "These locations are legendary, but they are in difficulty."
From early 2023 onward, at least 150 of these venues have permanently closed – roughly one-sixth of the total UK scene.
In the last year, well-known musicians including the band Pulp, the group Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Sheeran have all aided the trust in its efforts to support the industry, by applying a small levy to their ticket costs, which benefits local stages.
Fender also took part, generating more than £100,000 on his 2024 arena tour to help numerous local spots across the UK.
These funds helped locations that were dealing with imminent closure due to challenges caused by water damage, fire incidents and family tragedies, as well as licensing issues, conflicts and neighbor objections.
Some locations received financial assistance in upgrading infrastructure and technical equipment that helped musicians and audiences.
"The concept that money from performances in major spaces helps the independent spots, where it begins for musicians like me, is just sensible," Sam Fender has said.
He is far from the only musician to donate his Mercury Prize funds to worthy causes.
When they earned the trophy in 1996 for their record the album, lead singer Jarvis Cocker announced that the act would contribute their cash to the non-profit War Child.
During 2002, rapper and singer Ms Dynamite split her bounty across a few organizations, like the children's charity and a Sickle Cell charity.
"I also donated a £1,000 to Highgate Newtown, to their classes, because I did gymnastics when I was a child and they lacked updated gear," Ms Dynamite told the media.
Previously, the band contributed their winnings to the youth organization that nurtured their band, in addition to other independent music bodies.
Additionally the 1994 recipients the group gave their winnings to a MS organization after a friend was found to have the condition.
"Receiving the award was quite enough," stated singer Small. "The prize was the cherry on top but we didn't require the cherry, because we had the main prize. So our success touched somebody else's life."
Last week, the MVT revealed it had protected a couple of small stages in south-east England, by transferring them to local control.
One venue in Southampton and the other in that location were bought under the Own Our Venues initiative, which is backed by the arts council and supporters who acquire "stakes" in the venues.
