If you want to boost your project management efficiency, project charter templates are necessary. With the right project charter template, I move from scattered ideas to shared commitment. Sponsors approve scope and success criteria. Teams know who decides what. Everyone sees the same milestones and risks. The project charter establishes a common understanding and clear expectations among all stakeholders.
Pick the format that fits your workflow. The core content stays the same: problem and goals, scope boundaries, stakeholders and authority, milestones and deliverables, risks and assumptions, budget and resources, and the governance to keep things on track. The project charter defines the project's purpose and serves as the foundation for project planning. It is essential to document key information and project details, such as stakeholder details, project goals, scope, milestones, and budget, to ensure clarity and alignment.
If you prefer a lighter start, a simple project charter template will do the job and still earn stakeholder approval. In the following part, I’ll provide you with free project charter templates.
What is a project charter and why it matters for every team
A project charter is an authorization document. It sets the intent, defines boundaries, names decision-makers, and captures success criteria before deep planning begins. A project plan dives into tasks and schedules. The charter frames the why, what, who, and how success is validated. It is the executive handshake that legitimizes the work and unlocks resources. A project charter outlines the project's purpose, objectives, scope, stakeholders, and high-level requirements, providing a clear foundation for all project activities.
The project charter serves as the project's foundation by clearly defining the project's purpose and project aims, providing essential structure and guidance for all subsequent planning and execution.
Why this matters:
Alignment: Clear goals and scope keep everyone on the same page, ensuring stakeholder alignment from the outset.
Scope control: A precise scope statement and constraints reduce scope creep.
Faster approvals: Named roles and a simple sign-off path cut delays.
Measurable outcomes: Success criteria connect deliverables to real results.
Risk readiness: Early risks and dependencies set expectations before commitments harden, helping to establish clear project expectations for all involved.
“Project charter template” is a thinking tool. It guides teams to answer the right questions in the right order. A simple project charter template can scale from small initiatives to complex programs. You adjust the depth, not the structure.
Context and distinctions:
Project charter vs project plan: The charter authorizes and sets direction; the plan operationalizes it.
Project charter vs business case: The business case argues for investment; the charter records the decision and codifies scope and success.
Project charter vs brief: A brief summarizes goals; a charter adds authority, roles, and governance.
When someone asks, “What did we agree to?” The charter is the single reference point. It’s short enough to read, clear enough to sign, and durable enough to keep alignment through change. As the project progresses, it is important to revisit and update the charter to maintain stakeholder alignment and support effective decision-making. If you need a specialized version, Lark project management charter template tailored to your PMO or a six sigma project charter template for DMAIC work both follow the same backbone: intent, scope, roles, risks, and measures.
Key elements of a project charter template
A strong project charter template balances brevity with completeness. Below are the essential parts I include, with prompts to help you fill them quickly. You’ll see related keywords naturally: scope statement, stakeholder approval, risk register, success criteria, RACI, change control, key roles, and project management team. When considering stakeholders, be sure to address both project stakeholders and external stakeholders to ensure all interests are represented.
Problem statement and goals
What to write: One or two sentences describing the problem or opportunity, plus a clear statement of the project purpose and project aims. Include clear goals.
Why it matters: A precise problem statement aligns minds; defining the project's objectives and identifying the target audience are essential for alignment. Goals frame the impact.
Project scope, assumptions, and constraints
What to write: A concise scope statement with in-scope and out-of-scope bullets. Note key assumptions and constraints.
Why it matters: Boundaries prevent scope creep; assumptions and constraints make uncertainty visible.
Deliverables, milestones, and high-level timeline
What to write: Major project deliverables and milestone checkpoints with target windows. Include the project schedule and project timeline, specifying start and end dates for each milestone.
Why it matters: Milestones tied to outcomes show progress and value. Tracking when deliverables are completed ensures timely delivery and helps measure project success.
Stakeholders, roles, and responsibilities
What to write: Sponsor, approvers, core team, and contributors, ideally with a light RACI.
Why it matters: Clear authority shortens decisions and prevents confusion.
Risks, dependencies, and mitigation
What to write: A short risk register listing top risks, likelihood/impact, key dependencies, and early mitigations.
Why it matters: Transparent risks build trust and enable proactive action.
Budget and resources
What to write: The budget envelope, resources needed—including financial resources, project costs, and the overall project budget—as well as any additional resources required beyond the main budget. Also include any constraints or procurement notes.
Why it matters: Approval without resource clarity invites stalls later.
Governance, approval, and change control
What to write: Approvers, decision cadence, and a lightweight change control process with a one-page change log.
Why it matters: Governance protects the charter under pressure and keeps changes intentional.
Success criteria and measurement
What to write: Outcome-based success criteria with baseline, target, data source, and review cadence.
Why it matters: Clear measures turn the charter into an agreement about evidence.
Project charter template examples you can adapt fast
IT and software delivery charter example
Overview
Use this project charter template to guide a smooth software rollout from assessment to go‑live. It maps directly to a project management charter template structure—problem, scope, milestones, risks, RACI, and success criteria—so teams can align fast and earn stakeholder approval. You can draft the narrative in a project charter template Word file and mirror milestones and risks in a project charter template Excel sheet. If you prefer a lighter start, a simple project charter template is included, and you can also export a free project charter template for quick sharing.
Who is this charter template for?
IT project managers, system administrators, product owners, and release leads
Teams coordinating pilots, staged rollouts, and integrations
Organizations that keep charters in project charter template Word/Excel or need a project management charter template for PMO reviews
Benefits
Clear path to approval: Scope, risks, and success criteria are presented cleanly to shorten sign‑off cycles
Lower rollout risk: Milestones, test gates, and a change log make issues visible early
Flexible formats: Start in a project charter template Word, track dates and risks in a project charter template Excel, or share a project charter template free download for fast feedback
Scales by method: Add DMAIC‑style sections if you need a six sigma project charter template for reliability‑focused work
Project Roadmap charter example
Overview
This project charter template gives a clear, end‑to‑end snapshot of purpose, scope, goals, stakeholders, and a high‑level timeline. I can draft the narrative in a project charter template Word file, pair it with a project charter template Excel tracker for milestones and RACI, and keep a visual roadmap to show progress at a glance. For quick initiatives, a simple project charter template keeps things lean; when governance matters, I can swap in a six sigma project charter template with DMAIC sections.
Who is this charter template for?
This template fits project managers, team leads, and cross‑functional contributors who need fast alignment and lightweight tracking. It works well for:
Startups and small teams that prefer a simple project charter template for quick approvals
Larger programs that combine a narrative in project charter template Word with trackers in project charter template Excel
Agencies, consultants, and nonprofits that share a free project charter template with clients and partners
Teams that want a project management charter template they can reuse across portfolios
Benefits
Alignment without noise: The structure encourages plain‑language problem, scope, goals, stakeholders, and success criteria. Everyone sees the same baseline.
Roadmap clarity: The timeline view highlights milestones, dependencies, and handoffs, so risks surface early and status reads clearly.
Flexible formats: Use a free project charter template in Word/Google Docs for the story, plus project charter template Excel for milestones, RACI, risk register, and approvals.
Right‑sized rigor: Start simple, then extend to a six sigma project charter template when tollgates and controls are needed.
Marketing and growth experiment charter example
Overview
This charter turns growth ideas into a structured experiment plan that fits any project charter template. It covers goals, hypotheses, scope, deliverables, timeline, and success criteria. Use a project charter template Word page for the narrative and a project charter template Excel tab for experiment backlogs, metrics, and review notes. If speed matters, start with a simple project charter template and expand as you learn.
Who is this charter template for?
Marketing managers, growth PMs, performance teams, and content leads
Teams running multi‑channel campaigns that need a shared source of truth
Stakeholders who prefer a project management charter template with RACI, risk register, and change control
Benefits
Faster alignment: Clear goals and acceptance criteria make approvals quick and focused
Budget awareness: Track spend alongside hypotheses and outcomes to guide next steps
Repeatable learning: Standard fields and a risk register improve experiment quality over time
Easy sharing: Offer a free project charter template for contributors; keep the master in Word/Excel or your PMO’s system
Business data and analytics platform upgrade charter example
Overview
Use this charter to guide an analytics platform upgrade. It aligns stakeholders on problem statements, success criteria, data contracts, access governance, migration phases, and validation. Draft the executive view in a project charter template Word document, and maintain migration matrices, test checklists, and dependency logs in a project charter template Excel file. For methodical controls, adapt it into a six sigma project charter template with phased gates.
Who is this charter template for?
Data leaders, analytics engineers, BI managers, and platform owners
Teams managing phased migrations with parallel runs and verification steps
PMOs that require a project management charter template with stage gates and change logs
Benefits
Confident cutovers: Clear milestones and verification steps reduce downtime risk
Governance built‑in: Role‑based access and data policy checkpoints increase trust
Portfolio view: Standardized fields make status and risk easy to roll up across initiatives
Flexible export: Share a project charter template free PDF with partners while managing details in Word/Excel
Six Sigma DMAIC charter example
Overview
This project charter template uses the DMAIC cycle to cut defects and stabilize outcomes in a repeatable process. I keep the narrative tight—problem, goals, scope, deliverables, risks, governance—so sponsors can approve quickly. For drafting, a project charter template Word file works well, and I pair it with a project charter template in Lark Base to track CTQs, baselines, experiments, and control charts. If a lighter kickoff is enough, I start with a simple project charter template; when quality rigor is required, this six sigma project charter template provides the tollgates and documentation reviewers expect. It’s a reusable project management charter template that reduces ambiguity and protects scope.
Who is this charter template for?
Teams running process improvement, quality, or operations excellence initiatives that need DMAIC tollgates and clear approvals.
Managers and analysts who want a structured, auditable six sigma project charter template without heavy admin.
Organizations standardizing on a project management charter template that can be shared as a project charter template free download for consistent intake.
Benefits
Measurable alignment: Links problem, CTQs, baseline, and success criteria so approvals focus on outcomes rather than opinions.
Built‑in rigor: DMAIC phases, tollgate reviews, and a simple change log make governance straightforward and auditable.
Right level of effort: Start lean with a simple project charter template, then deepen controls as evidence builds.
Reusable and scalable: A consistent project management charter template speeds stakeholder approval across similar processes.
How to use Lark to create a successful project charter template
Lark Base: Turn a project charter template into a living system
Lark Base helps me turn any project charter template into a living system—without code. It fits how I already work with a project charter template Word narrative and a project charter template Excel tracker, and it scales from a simple project charter template to a project management charter template or a six sigma project charter template. I can start from a free project charter template, then add structure, automations, and dashboards that keep approvals and delivery on track.
No‑code automation for project charters:
Flexible workflow management with existing files: Attach your project charter template Docs or project charter template Sheets files to the Base workflow. Mirror as a centralized place to manage these templates.
Build triggers and actions in a few clicks: I create Lark Base automated workflows that assign owners, update fields, post chat cards, route approvals, set reminders, and kick off handoffs. I can also link with Tasks to trigger automated loops—no scripts or connectors required. This makes a project charter template feel operational from day one. I don’t need coding skills to route requests for changes to scope, milestones, or budget
Data visualization that makes the charter actionable: Live, zero‑code dashboards: Base allows users to switch between kanban, calendar, and Gantt views to match the conversation. I turn charter data into live dashboards without extra tools. Charts and KPI cards update from saved views, so executives see real status, not static slides. This works whether the source started as a project charter template free download or a custom layout.
Lark Docs: A clean space for project charter template narrative
Lark Docs is a clean, collaborative space that turns any project charter template into a clear, action‑ready narrative.
Synced blocks from Base: Lark Docs turns any project charter template into a clear, living document. You can draft the narrative, then add rich, actionable synced blocks: insert tasks with owners and due dates, embed tables for scope, milestones, and RACI, drop synced views from a project charter template Excel, and paste diagrams or flowcharts to visualize process and decision paths. Mention risks inline and link to evidence, or add checklists and callouts for acceptance criteria.
Inline comments and @mentions: Team members can cooperate seamlessly in Lark Docs. That can discuss and decide right next to the text. Keep feedback focused and easy to follow. No scattered chats or version confusion.
Lark Approval for project charter template governance
Approvals should be fast and auditable. Lark Approval links directly to the charter Doc and Base record, so I can route decisions with clarity and capture outcomes automatically.
Lightweight approval flow: Lark Approval connects directly to Base records for pricing changes, substitutions, reorders, and returns. You can route approvals and create automated approval workflow; This tight loop strengthens supply reliability and keeps your project management easier and transparent.
Reminders and escalations: SLA nudges keep reviews moving. If an approver is unavailable, escalate to a backup. Less waiting, more progress.
Works with any starting point: Whether you begin with a free project charter template, a project charter template free from your library, or custom Word/Excel files, the approval routes to the same Base record and stays auditable.
Lark all‑in‑one: Messenger, meetings, tasks, and calendars
Lark is more than a template creator. It is all‑in‑one workspace helps me move from agreement to action without context loss. Messenger, Meetings, Tasks, and Calendars sit next to Docs and Base, so decisions turn into delivery steps quickly.
Lark pricing
Lark stands out as a process charter tool because its pricing delivers full‑stack capability without the enterprise premium. On a single, cost‑effective plan, I get Docs for narrative, Tasks for execution, Base for no‑code automation, and Chats/Meetings for real‑time collaboration—no extra add‑ons or per‑feature upsells.
Starter plan: Free forever plan that includes 11 powerful tools for up to 20 users. It also comes with 100GB of storage, 1000 automation runs, AI translations, and more.
Pro plan: $12/user/month (billed annually) for up to 500 users. It includes everything in Starter plus a group calling for up to 500 attendees, 15TB of storage, 50,000 automation runs, and more.
Enterprise plan: Contact sales for custom pricing. Supports unlimited users and includes even more automation runs and advanced security, compliance, and management features.
Conclusion
A strong project charter template turns intent into alignment and momentum. Route your draft for stakeholder approval, lock approved sections, and convert milestones into tasks with clear owners and dates. Keep a lightweight change control and update the charter at gates or material changes so your baseline stays trustworthy.
When you’re ready for a living system, use Lark: Lark Docs keeps collaboration smooth with comments, tasks, tables, and flowcharts, while Lark Base adds no‑code automation and dashboards that surface risks, dependencies, and KPIs—so your project charter template moves from document to dependable delivery.
FAQs
Is a project charter the same as a project plan?
No. A charter authorizes the project and defines why it exists, what success means, who’s accountable, and high-level scope, milestones, risks, and approvals. A plan details how and when work happens—tasks, estimates, resources, and schedules. Use the project charter template to align; use the plan to execute.
How long should a project charter be?
Keep it as short as possible while enabling clear approval. For small or low‑risk work, a simple project charter template of one to two pages is enough. For complex efforts, expand sections on scope, risks, dependencies, and change control. Move deep details to annexes or trackers, not the narrative.
What makes a good project charter template?
It guides clarity without bloat: problem statement, goals, scope boundaries, assumptions, deliverables, milestones, RACI, risk register, budget, governance, approvals, and change control. It should be easy to skim, consistent across teams, and compatible with Word/Excel and collaborative tools like Notion, Confluence, or Lark.
How often should I update the charter?
Update at major gates and when scope, schedule, budget, or risk posture materially changes. Record a brief change request with reason, impact, and approvals, then version the charter. Routine status goes in your plan or tracker; the charter remains the baseline for intent and governance, not daily updates.
Can I get a project charter template free download?
Yes. Grab a free project charter template in Word/Google Docs for the narrative and a project charter template Excel workbook for milestones, RACI, risk register, and approval logs. Prefer a faster start? Use a simple project charter template, then expand as complexity grows or governance requires more structure.
What tools help operationalize the charter?
Lark Docs supports collaborative writing with comments, mentions, tasks, tables, and flowcharts for process clarity. Lark Base adds no‑code automation—approvals, reminders, alerts—plus dashboards for KPIs and risks. Together they turn a project charter template into a living system. Excel remains useful for quick exports and reports.
