The artist has handed over the full amount of his £25k award prize money to the Music Venues Trust, which operates to preserve the UK's independent live music spots.
Fender was presented with the prize on 16 October as his latest record his work was chosen as the outstanding release of the past year.
Fender has chosen to hand the money over to the Music Venues Trust, in recognition of the essential function small stages had in his early career.
"I couldn't be pursuing this success if it hadn't been for all the performances I did around the North East, and elsewhere, when I was beginning," said Fender. "These locations are renowned, but they are facing challenges."
From early 2023 onward, more than 150 of these spaces have ceased operations – approximately 16 percent of the whole industry in the UK.
Recently, top acts like the band Pulp, the group Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all aided the trust in its efforts to help venues survive, by adding a minor surcharge to their ticket costs, which goes to help local stages.
Fender also participated, collecting more than £100,000 on his 2024 arena tour to help numerous small stages across Britain.
These funds helped venues that were confronting potential shutdown due to challenges caused by water damage, fire incidents and family tragedies, as well as licensing issues, conflicts and neighbor objections.
Other venues were granted financial assistance in improving amenities and gear that directly benefitted artists and audiences.
"The idea that revenue from shows in big venues backs the smaller venues, where it begins for performers like me, is just sensible," Fender has stated.
Fender is not the first artist to give his Mercury Prize winnings to worthy causes.
When Pulp received the prize in 1996 for their album their work, lead singer the singer declared that the band would contribute their winnings to the non-profit War Child.
In 2002, rapper and singer she shared her award across multiple organizations, like the NSPCC and a charity for Sickle Cell.
"And I gave a grand to my local community centre, to their gymnastics program, because I trained in gymnastics when I was growing up and they needed updated gear," the artist shared with outlets.
Previously, they contributed their funds to the community center that nurtured their group, in addition to other local music groups.
Additionally the 1994 recipients they contributed their award to a MS organization after a acquaintance was found to have the condition.
"Receiving the award was sufficient," remarked vocalist Heather Small. "The money was the extra but we didn't require the bonus, because we had the cake. So our victory affected another person's life."
Recently, the trust shared it had protected two grassroots venues in that region, by bringing them into community ownership.
One venue in that area and the other in Bristol were acquired under the Own Our Venues scheme, which is backed by Arts Council England and music fans who purchase "ownership units" in the venues.
