Distinguished - Thoroughly describes the problem in a fully compelling way to provoke interest from a prospective funder, fully including the target population and where they are located.

Proficient - Describes the problem in a compelling way to provoke interest from a prospective funder, including the target population and where they are located. Minor details are missing.

Basic - Partially describes the problem in a somewhat compelling way to provoke interest from a prospective funder, minimally including the target population and where they are located. Relevant details are missing.

Below Expectations - Attempts to describe the problem; however, the description is not compelling and may not provoke interest from a prospective funder, the population and where they are located is not included, and significant details are missing.

Non-Performance - The description of the problem, including the target population and where they are located is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Thoroughly describes when and why the problem occurs.

Proficient - Describes when and why the problem occurs. Minor details are missing.

Basic - Partially describes when and why the problem occurs. Relevant details are missing.

Below Expectations - Attempts to describe when and why the problem occurs; however, significant details are missing.

Non-Performance - The description of when and why the problem occurs is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Thoroughly describes the outcome of meeting the need and how it is connected to the organization's ability to respond to the need.

Proficient - Describes the outcome of meeting the need and how it is connected to the organization's ability to respond to the need. Minor details are missing.

Basic - Partially describes the outcome of meeting the need and how it is connected to the organization's ability to respond to the need. Relevant details are missing.

Below Expectations - Attempts to describe the outcome of meeting the need; however, does not describe how it is connected to the organization's ability to respond to the need, and significant details are missing.

Non-Performance - The description of the outcome of meeting the need and how it is connected to the organization’s ability to respond to the need is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Assembles fully reliable and authoritative supporting evidence for the what, who, where, and when regarding the problem statement.

Proficient - Assembles reliable and authoritative supporting evidence for the what, who, where, and when regarding the problem statement. Minor details are missing, slightly unclear, or inaccurate.

Basic - Assembles somewhat reliable and authoritative supporting evidence for the what, who, where, and when regarding the problem statement. Relevant details are missing, unclear, and/or inaccurate.

Below Expectations – Attempts to assemble supporting evidence for the what, who, where, and when regarding the problem statement; however, the evidence is not reliable or authoritative, and significant details are missing, unclear, and inaccurate.

Non-Performance - The supporting evidence for the what, who, where, and when regarding the problem statement is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Thoroughly explains how the problem aligns with the prospective funders’ mission and goals.

Proficient - Explains how the problem aligns with the prospective funders’ mission and goals. Minor details are missing.

Basic - Partially explains how the problem aligns with the prospective funders’ mission and goals. Relevant details are missing.

Below Expectations - Attempts to explain how the problem aligns with the prospective funders’ mission and goals; however, significant details are missing.

Non-Performance - The explanation of how the problem aligns with the prospective funders’ mission and goals is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Displays meticulous comprehension and organization of syntax and mechanics, such as spelling and grammar. Written work contains no errors and is very easy to understand.

Proficient - Displays comprehension and organization of syntax and mechanics, such as spelling and grammar. Written work contains only a few minor errors and is mostly easy to understand.

Basic - Displays basic comprehension of syntax and mechanics, such as spelling and grammar. Written work contains a few errors which may slightly distract the reader.

Below Expectations - Fails to display basic comprehension of syntax or mechanics, such as spelling and grammar. Written work contains major errors which distract the reader.

Non-Performance - The assignment is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the instructions.

Distinguished - Accurately uses APA formatting consistently throughout the paper, title page, and reference page.

Proficient - Exhibits APA formatting throughout the paper. However, layout contains a few minor errors. 

Basic - Exhibits limited knowledge of APA formatting throughout the paper. However, layout does not meet all APA requirements. 

Below Expectations - Fails to exhibit basic knowledge of APA formatting. There are frequent errors, making the layout difficult to distinguish as APA.

Non-Performance - The assignment is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the instructions.

Distinguished - The length of the paper is equivalent to the required number of correctly formatted pages. 

Proficient - The length of the paper is nearly equivalent to the required number of correctly formatted pages. 

Basic - The length of the paper is equivalent to at least three quarters of the required number of correctly formatted pages.

Below Expectations - The length of the paper is equivalent to at least one half of the required number of correctly formatted pages.   

Non-Performance - The assignment is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the instructions.

Distinguished - Uses more than the required number of scholarly sources, providing compelling evidence to support ideas. All sources on the reference page are used and cited correctly within the body of the assignment.

Proficient - Uses the required number of scholarly sources to support ideas. All sources on the reference page are used and cited correctly within the body of the assignment.

Basic - Uses less than the required number of sources to support ideas. Some sources may not be scholarly. Most sources on the reference page are used within the body of the assignment. Citations may not be formatted correctly.

Below Expectations - Uses an inadequate number of sources that provide little or no support for ideas. Sources used may not be scholarly. Most sources on the reference page are not used within the body of the assignment. Citations are not formatted correctly.

Non-Performance - The assignment is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the instructions.