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Free template · Plan phase

IT project charter template

Scope, objectives, governance and success criteria on one page. Free download in Word.

CM-TPL-PLN-04Plan phaseWordFree
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Download the project charter template

Authorise the migration project and agree its scope, objectives, governance, constraints and success criteria in one place.

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Free to use and adapt. Document ID CM-TPL-PLN-04, version 1.0, November 2026.

What's inside

What the template includes

Document sections

  1. Project overview · Project name, sponsor, project manager, start and target end dates, and a two-sentence description.
  2. Background and purpose · Why this project exists, in plain language. Reference the approved business case.
  3. Objectives · SMART objectives: specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, time-bound.
  4. Scope · List in-scope and out-of-scope items explicitly. Include users, sites, workloads and data.
  5. Deliverables · The tangible outputs the project will produce.
  6. Success criteria · How the sponsor will judge success. Each needs a measure and target.
  7. Governance and roles · Who decides what. Include the steering committee, reporting cadence and escalation path. Reference the RACI.
  8. Tolerances and escalation · How far schedule, budget and scope may move before the project manager must escalate.
  9. Assumptions, constraints and dependencies · Things taken as true, limits the project must work within, and what it relies on from outside.
  10. High-level milestones · Key dates from the master plan.
  11. Approval · Signatures authorise the project to proceed and the project manager to use the resources described.
How to use it

How to use this template

  1. Complete the charter after the business case is approved and before detailed planning starts.
  2. Keep it short: two to four pages. Detail belongs in the plan, RAID log and design documents.
  3. Be explicit about what is out of scope; most scope disputes come from things nobody wrote down.
  4. Make every success criterion measurable with a target and a date.
  5. Have the sponsor sign it, then store it with the project records and reference it at every stage gate.
Built to a standard

Ready to share with your steering committee

  • Branded cover or instructions page with document ID and version
  • QR code linking to the latest version, and a Code128 barcode for your document register
  • Document control, approval block and a clear disclaimer
  • Example rows written for real migration projects, which you replace with your own
FAQ

Questions about this template

Is the project charter template free?

Yes. Download it in Word and adapt it for your organisation. No sign-up is needed.

Can I use it in Google Sheets or Google Docs?

Yes. Upload the file to Google Drive and open it with Google Sheets or Docs. Dropdowns and most formulas carry across; check conditional formatting after converting.

Can I remove the Cloud-Migrations branding?

Yes. Replace the logo and footer with your own. Keep the disclaimer in mind: the template is general guidance and needs adapting to your project.

How do I know I have the latest version?

Scan the QR code on the cover or instructions sheet. It opens this page, which always links to the current version.