<Logo of Organization>
This template is annotated with notes to help authors when filling it out. You may want to delete text that is within <> with appropriate text specific to the project, particularly when you submit a formal form for signatures.
Project Charter

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Project Information .......................................................................................... 1
Business Case / Proposed Solution .............................................. 1
Consistency/Fit with Organizational Strategic Plan....................... 1
Major Alternatives Considered and Why Rejected ....................... 2
Known Project Constraints ........................................................... 2
Estimate for Overall Project .......................................................... 2
Information for Project Planning (High Level) ............................................... 3
High Level Schedule / Milestone’s for Project Planning ................ 3
Budget Summary for Project Planning (High Level) ..................... 3
Resource Requirements for Project Planning (High Level) ........... 4
Governance for Project Planning (High Level) .............................. 5
Signatures ........................................................................................................ 6
Project Charter i

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Project Charter
The purpose of the Project Charter is to formally authorize the start of a new project. Specifically, the charter is intended to authorize the sponsor and project manager to apply resources to develop a Project Initiation Plan (PIP).
The Project Initiation Plan will provide the parameters for the project and includes: goals, objectives, success criteria, scope, high level schedule, with key deliverables and milestones, stakeholder roles, risk plan and other management plans for the project, along with resources needed and the project budget and benefits. The Project Initiation Plan will require approval prior to execution of the project.
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This Project Charter requests approval for $_______________, funded from the following sources:
__________________, which will be used to develop the Project Initiation Plan.
Or
This Charter does not ask for the authority to spend funds at this time to develop the Project Initiation
Plan.
<Delete above choice not used>
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*On large, complex projects, phases may need a new charter.
What is the business need that gave rise to this project? Describe the business drivers (i.e. market demand, business need, customer request, technological advance, legal requirement, or social need) that created the problem, opportunity or business requirement. How did the project come about?
Provide any other necessary background.
Provide a description of the project that includes the key goals and objectives and what the project will deliver and any other high level expectations of the project. Identify if this is part of a larger project or if it has follow on projects.
Identify the customers and anticipated consumers of the project and why they will benefit from the project.
Product Need / Product Description / Customers
Describe how this project and its objectives specifically support the organization’s current strategic plan.
Consistency/Fit with Organization’s Strategic Plan
Project Charter 1

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Explain what would happen if you do nothing. Describe other alternatives that were considered and why they were rejected.
Explain why chosen / not chosen Alternatives considered
1. Do Nothing <The Do Nothing option is to be addressed as an option in every Charter.
Ex: Current software is no longer supported and we need to upgrade software for mission critical application.>
2. <Selected Alternative>
3. <Other Alternatives considered>
If at this stage of the project you have not looked at alternatives or if considering alternatives does not apply, please describe the situation.
Alternatives do not apply because :
<Describe the situation: why alternatives do not apply at this time or at all.>
Identify any constraints known about this project that will affect the “Triple Constraints” (budget, schedule, resources) or any other known constraints for this project. If there are no constraints, note that fact.
In order for the project initiation plan to be done successfully please list any known factors that limit the ultimate project’s execution. The most frequent constraint is the project end date. For each constraint listed, be sure to elaborate on how it is limiting the project and how the project would benefit from its removal.
Project Constraint Type
1. <Budget Constraint>
2. <Schedule Constraint>
3. <Resource Constraint>
Description of the Constraint
<Ex: $100,000 of funds has been identified for this project. No other funding is available.
Features that cannot fit into this constraint could be listed as future enhancements.>
<Ex: this project must be done by August 15,
2010>
<Ex: John Smith is the only person who has the skills to complete the work to build this system.>
An estimated cost for the overall project is between ____________ and ____________. The estimated duration is approximately ________ months to ________.
This estimate is based on: <include here the basis of the estimate (e.g. historical information, other organizations that have done a similar project, expert judgment etc.)>
Project Charter 2

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Any project milestones or major project activity that will happen during this period of time should be added to the High Level Schedule. The major deliverable for Project Planning (High Level) is the
Project Initiation Plan (PIP).
Milestone Start Date
Project Initiation
Develop Project Charter
Evaluate Project Charter
Approve Project Charter
Project Planning (High Level)
Completion
Date
Prepare for the Project
Conduct Project Kick – Off Meeting
Develop the Project Initiation Plan
Define the Goal, Specific Objectives, & Success Criteria
Define Project Scope
Develop the High Level Schedule and Document Assumptions
Identify and Document Stakeholder Involvement
Develop the Communication Plan
Establish the Project Budget
Define Governance and Resourcing
Define the Management Approaches
Develop the High Level Risk Plan
Submit the Project Initiation Plan for Approval
Confirm Approval to Proceed- Approved Project Initiation Plan
Provide below the estimated budget for Project Planning (High Level).
Type of Expense Cost ($) Account Number /
Funding Source
Staff Expense (internal)
Capital Expense
Operating Expense
Service (external)
Contingency
Total Budget for Project
Planning (High Level)
Project Charter 3

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Define the make-up of the project resources for the development of the High Level Plan and any other activities that will be done during this period. Include those specific individuals that have been identified and also show those that need ‘To Be Determined’ (TBD).
Table 1: List the names of all individuals needed to perform the work described in the Project Charter and whose participation must be approved by the Manager of the Resource
Project Initiation
Team Role
No. Who
(if known) or TBD
%
Time or
Hours
Dates Needed
(Date Range)
Name of Manager
<Ex: Business
Analysts
<Ex: Project
Manager
<Ex: Technical
Analyst
<Ex: Subject Matter
Experts
1
1
1
TBD
TBD
TBD
5 TBD
30%
50%
30%
10 hrs ea
MM/DD/YY-
MM/DD/YY>
MM/DD/YY-
MM/DD/YY>
MM/DD/YY-
MM/DD/YY>
MM/DD/YY-
MM/DD/YY>
Resourcing comments, constraints, and/or issues:
Project Charter 4

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Define the governance model for the project planning (high level) phase of the project. A sample is provided below. Include Actual Names
Executive Sponsor
Project Director / Sponsor Steering Committee
Focus Group / SME's
Project Manager
Technical Project Lead
Project Team
Business / Functional
Project Lead
Project Team
Project Charter 5

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The Sponsor should indicate approval or rejection of the Project Charter by checking the Approve or
Reject box. If the Sponsor is rejecting the charter, he/she must indicate the reason in the comments field.
The Sponsor indicates final acceptance of the Project Charter (including securing individual resources) by providing his/her signature in the Project Sponsor Signature box and the approval date in the Date box.
Executive Sponsors
Name Action Comments Signature Date
Approve:

Reject:
 etc.
Approve:

Reject:

Project Directors and/or Sponsors
Name Action Comments etc.
Signature Date
Approve:

Reject:
 etc.
Approve:

Reject:

Approvers
Agreement to Secure Required Resources
The Approver is the person(s) or group that has the authority to commit resources for this project.
He/she indicates his/her agreement to provide required resources for Project Planning (High Level) by providing his/her Approver Signature and the approval Date.
Name Action Comments Signature Date
Approve:

Reject:

Approve:

Reject:

Project Charter 6