It’s essential to have a clear, structured plan when tackling a new project, which is where this PMP project charter template comes in. As guided by PMP (Project Management Professional) standards, the template helps you define objectives, deliverables, resources, and responsibilities. It’s ideal for project managers and teams who need an easy, consistent way to outline project essentials and set expectations.
How to use the PMP project charter template
Here’s a step-by-step guide to setting up the template and putting it to work for your team:
- Start with project basics. Open the template and fill in the foundational details, such as the project title, sponsor, and manager. This step anchors your team’s understanding of the project’s purpose and clarifies roles early on.
- Define your project objectives and scope. List clear objectives to align your team on the project’s goals and impact. Then, outline what’s in scope and what’s not. Being specific here prevents scope creep, allowing your team to stay on target without unnecessary distractions.
- Assign responsibilities and resources. Add key team members and clarify their roles, then estimate the resources they’ll need. This ensures every team member knows their part in the project.
- Set and track critical milestones. Identify the key milestones you’ll track throughout the project. These could include design completions, testing phases, or deadlines. Milestones act as checkpoints, helping your team stay on schedule and allowing you to catch issues early.
- Review and communicate the charter. Once your template is complete, review it with all stakeholders. Use clear communication channels to keep everyone updated on progress. This way, every team member is aware of how they contribute to the broader project vision.
Customizing the PMP project charter template
You can quickly edit the PMP project charter template to fit your organization’s needs.
Feel free to leverage multiple input types. You can use dropdown menus for expressing items like risk level (e.g. high, medium, low). Another option is to add simpler yes-or-no entries or sections for uploading visuals and charts.
It’s also important to include fields for regulatory requirements to ensure compliance. Depending on your industry, this could mean adding sections for health and safety standards, quality benchmarks, or environmental compliance checks.
You might also personalize the language in the template. Your company or industry might prefer to use specific terms–for example, using “outcomes” instead of “deliverables” if that’s how your team communicates.
Get your own PMP project charter template now
Streamline your project setup and bring clarity to every phase with this project charter template. From defining objectives to assigning roles, it supports you in keeping projects on track and fully aligned. Start using it today to simplify planning, enhance accountability, and drive real results for your projects.