Applying Muppet Theory to fundraising strategery
Full confession: I started out writing a blog on the mildly depressing findings from GivingUSA 2024 (tl;dr – we’re still screwed). But in a broader news and information environment that seems frightening in a spectacularly unfun way, I chose a different tack.
You may or may not have encountered Dahlia Lithwick’s 2012 introduction of Muppet Theory, the notion that nearly all of us fall into one of two categories: chaos muppets and order muppets.
The chaos muppets, in Lithwick’s words, “make their way through life in a swirling maelstrom of food crumbs, small flaming objects, and the letter C.” Chaos muppets color outside the box because it’s fun. They are emotional, volatile and creative. Among the best-known chaos muppets are Grover, Ernie and Cookie Monster. If you happen to be watching The Bear, Richie is a quintessential chaos muppet. So of course are all Faks. Carmen leans chaos as well. [I would argue that chaos and order are poles of a continuum; most of us are a mix.]
Order muppets by contrast tend to be “neurotic, highly regimented, and averse to surprises.” They are also the ones who keep the trains running on time. Order muppet paragons include Bert and Kermit the Frog. On The Bear, Natalie is an order muppet. So probably is Sydney. With Claire, the jury is out. She has the outside bearing of an order muppet but the soul of a chaos muppet.
Applying muppet theory to organizational theory, Lithwick offers that the key to well-functioning organization is getting the chaos muppet to order muppet ratio just right.
She writes, “It’s simply the case that the key to a happy marriage, a well-functioning family, and a productive place of work lies in carefully calibrating the ratio of Chaos Muppets to Order Muppets within any closed system. That, and always letting the Chaos Muppets do the driving.”
Order muppets make the world go round. Chaos muppets make it worth the ride.
So let’s look at fundraising:
Direct response is definitely order muppet territory. It’s a machine, and running a good machine requires consistency, precision, and discipline. Even there, however, chaos muppets play a critical role. Just talk to the copywriters and art directors. Recommended ratio: 5 order muppets to 1 chaos muppet.
Midlevel, as it has evolved, is also predominantly order muppet territory, but arguably with a stronger side of chaos than grassroots fundraising. Recommended ratio: 4 order muppets to 1 chaos muppet.
Major giving requires more of a mix. Chaos muppets make great MGO’s. They are charismatic, lively and remember donors’ dogs’ birthdays. Even though they never fill out their timesheets, they are critical. But without an order muppet core team, major gifts would explode into a cloud of rainbow-colored confetti. Recommended ratio: 3 order muppets to 1 chaos muppet.
Personally, as the only through-and-through chaos muppet at Sea Change, I’d have to say a chaos muppet to order muppet ratio of more than 1 to 3 is problematic in any organization. That is, for every chaos muppet, your team should have three or more order muppets. That’s exactly what we have at Sea Change (but only if you count Alia as an order muppet and I would argue she is the only person I know who can effectively embody both ends of the spectrum).
Wonder what kind of you are? Ask your partner. They know.
By all means, take the time to read Giving USA 2024. It’s important stuff. But if you’re a fundraiser and a chaos muppet, maybe read it with a tall glass of adult beverage at your side. And use three different colored highlighters.
Lithwick’s job by the way is covering law and the Supreme Court for Slate. Back in 2012 she argued the problem with the Court was too many order muppets. I’d be curious what she thinks today.