Sam Fender has handed over the full amount of his £25,000 Mercury Prize prize money to the MVT, which operates to save the Britain's small concert spaces.
Fender was awarded the cheque on mid-October as his new release People Watching was declared the top album of the previous year.
Fender has opted to donate the funds to the trust, in recognition of the vital role grassroots venues had in his early career.
"I wouldn't be doing this success if it weren't for all the performances I did around the region, and beyond, when I was starting out," said the artist. "These locations are renowned, but they are struggling."
Beginning in 2023, more than 150 of these spaces have ceased operations – approximately 16% of the whole industry in the UK.
Over the past year, top acts including Pulp, the group Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all supported the Music Venues Trust in its attempts to support the industry, by applying a small levy to their ticket prices, which goes to help local stages.
He also participated, raising more than £100,000 on his recent tour to assist numerous local spots across the UK.
These funds supported spaces that were facing imminent closure due to challenges caused by floods, blazes and family tragedies, as well as regulatory hurdles, legal disputes and noise complaints.
Additional spaces were granted funding support in modernizing amenities and technical equipment that directly benefitted artists and audiences.
"The concept that funds from concerts in major spaces backs the independent spots, where it begins for musicians like me, is just logical," the star has stated.
Fender is among several artists to donate his award winnings to charitable organizations.
Back when Pulp received the prize in 1996 for their release the album, lead singer Cocker announced that the band would donate their cash to the organization War Child.
That year, rapper and singer Ms Dynamite shared her bounty among a few good causes, like the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell organization.
"I also gave a £1,000 to my local community centre, to their classes, because I practiced gymnastics when I was growing up and they lacked updated gear," the artist told outlets.
Previously, Ezra Collective gave their winnings to the local youth club that supported their act, in addition to other independent music bodies.
And 1994 winners the group gave their winnings to a MS organization after a friend was found to have the illness.
"Receiving the award was quite enough," remarked vocalist Small. "The prize was the bonus but we could do without the cherry, because we had the honor. So our success touched somebody else's life."
In the past week, the trust announced it had rescued two local spots in the South East, by bringing them into community ownership.
The Joiners in that area and The Croft in the city were acquired under the Own Our Venues scheme, which is supported by Arts Council England and enthusiasts who purchase "shares" in the buildings.
