A project charter template for Excel is a formal document that defines the purpose, authority and objectives of a project at its outset. It typically outlines the project scope, key stakeholders, budget, high-level schedule and roles to authorize work and align the team. Using this template helps ensure that everyone starts with a clear understanding of the project’s direction, responsibilities and expectations.
Why Use This Project Charter Template for Excel?
Using a project charter template for Excel helps establish a clear foundation for a project by formally authorizing its existence and defining its key elements. It aligns stakeholders on the project’s purpose, scope objectives and leadership before work begins, reducing confusion and miscommunication later. The template also streamlines the process of creating a consistent and professional charter, making it easier to secure approvals and ensure accountability from the start.
Using a project charter template for Excel also supports better project governance by clearly documenting who is responsible for what and what success looks like. It provides a reference point throughout the project lifecycle so teams can revisit the original goals and constraints when evaluating progress or making decisions. This clarity helps prevent scope creep, aligns resources and gives sponsors a shared understanding of how the project fits into larger business goals.
Once approved, the information in the project charter directly informs the creation of a Gantt chart by supplying the project’s high-level scope, timeline and key milestones. These inputs help structure the work breakdown, identify dependencies and create a visual schedule that aligns with what was originally authorized.
Gantt charts in ProjectManager make this process seamless with drag-and-drop task adjustments, linking all four types of task dependencies, filtering for the critical path to identify tasks with zero slack and setting a baseline for real-time updates across teams. Its integration with resource planning and tracking tools ensures the Gantt remains accurate and actionable throughout the project.
When to Use This Project Charter Template for Excel
A project charter template should be used at the very beginning of a project during the initiation phase. This is when the project needs formal approval to move forward and when key elements like objectives, scope, stakeholders and leadership roles must be clearly defined. Using the template early ensures that everyone is aligned on expectations and responsibilities before planning or execution begins, helping to avoid confusion and set a solid foundation for success.
Who Should Use This Project Charter Template for Excel?
Project managers typically use a project charter template to draft and document the project’s foundation, but project sponsors and executive stakeholders also review and approve it. Program managers, team leads and sometimes PMO staff may contribute to or consult the charter to ensure alignment with organizational goals. Ultimately, it serves as a reference for the entire project team to understand scope, authority and expectations from the outset.
How to Use This Project Charter Template for Excel
To get started with the project charter template for Excel, begin by downloading and saving the file so you can edit and populate it with your specific project information. This template is pre-formatted and designed to guide you through the foundational elements of a project, offering structure and clarity for effective planning, approval and stakeholder alignment.
Once downloaded, follow these steps:
1. Enter Basic Project Information
Fill in the project title, sponsor name and authority, project manager details and management responsibilities. This creates accountability and defines decision-making authority.
2. Define the Purpose
In the “Project Purpose or Justification” section, describe why the project is being undertaken, its expected outcomes and how it aligns with strategic goals.
3. Set Goals and Objectives
Articulate broad project goals and break them down into clear, measurable objectives to track performance and success.
4. Establish Success Criteria
Use the “High-Level Requirements & Project Success Criteria” table to define how success will be measured across scope, schedule, budget, quality, stakeholder satisfaction, compliance and more.
5. Outline Key Deliverables
In the “High-Level Project Description,” list major project tasks, dependencies, deliverables, acceptance criteria and milestone markers.
6. Identify Risks
Populate the “High-Level Risks” table with potential issues, their likelihood and impact and corresponding mitigation strategies and risk owners.
7. Set a Milestone Schedule
Define major project milestones with planned/actual dates, durations and milestone owners to keep the timeline visible and actionable.
8. Input the Budget
Break down project costs in the “Summary Budget” section by labor, materials, overhead, contingency and management reserve to calculate the total budget.
9. Define Approvals and Deliverables
Clarify who must approve key deliverables and success criteria so project handoffs and sign-offs are seamless.
10. List Stakeholders
Identify key individuals or groups, their roles, power, interest and contact info to ensure effective communication and engagement.
11. Map Resource Requirements
For each major task, outline the materials, labor, equipment and other resources needed to execute the work efficiently.
By completing each section of the Excel-based project charter template for Excel, you build a comprehensive project foundation that supports alignment, accountability and execution from day one.
Related Project Portfolio Templates
The project charter template is only one of over 100 free project management templates for Excel and Word that can be immediately downloaded from our site. These templates address every aspect of managing a project across multiple industries. Here are just a few examples of other free templates that can help when creating a project charter.
Project Plan Template for Word
Download this free project plan template for Word to plan, execute and manage a project. It includes key sections such as project objectives, scope, deliverables, timeline, milestones, roles and responsibilities, budget estimates and risk assessments. It allows project managers and teams to customize content, add narrative detail and align the plan with stakeholder expectations.
Project Budget Template for Excel
This project budget template for Excel is a customizable spreadsheet used to estimate, track and manage the costs of a project. It typically includes categories like labor, materials, equipment and travel, along with columns for estimated vs. actual costs and variance. This template helps teams stay on budget, monitor spending in real time and easily report financial progress to stakeholders—all within Excel’s familiar interface.
Project Timeline Template
This free project timeline template is a visual planning tool that outlines the sequence of tasks or phases in a project along a timeline. It includes key milestones, start and end dates and task durations, helping teams understand what needs to be done and when. A timeline template makes it easier to track progress, coordinate efforts and keep the project on schedule.
ProjectManager Turns a Project Charter Template Into Actionable Plans
Unlike static project charter templates, ProjectManager transforms initial project details into dynamic, actionable plans. Our cloud-based platform connects your charter to live schedules, team assignments and real-time updates so you’re not stuck manually updating spreadsheets.
With integrated resource management tools, you can assign tasks based on availability, balance workloads and track costs as you plan—turning strategy into execution without leaving the software. Whether viewing team activity on the team page, balancing workloads with the color-coded workload chart and setting availability to assign the right resource at the right time.
Get Work Done on Multiple Project Views
Once your project is built, you can manage it your way with multiple views tailored to different work styles. Use the list view for clear task breakdowns and priorities, Gantt or sheet view for scheduling, kanban for workflow and calendar for deadlines. The list view is especially helpful for managing long task sets, making it easy to sort, filter and update assignments as work progresses.
Track Project Progress in Real Time
As the project progresses, our software lets you track progress with real-time dashboards that visualize key metrics. Customizable reports make it simple to share updates with stakeholders and audit performance, while secure timesheets ensure accurate time tracking for payroll or billing. This all-in-one visibility helps keep projects on budget, on schedule and aligned with goals.
Related Project Charter Content
A project charter template sets up a project for success. Those who would like to read more on this topic should click on the handful of links below. They cover everything from charters to planning.
- How to Write a Project Charter: Example & Template Included
- How to Create a Team Charter (Example & Template Included)
- What Is a Project Plan? The Ultimate Guide
- 20 Essential Project Documents
- Project Initiation: How to Start Your Project Off Right
ProjectManager is online project and portfolio management software that connects teams whether they’re in the office or out in the field. They can share files, comment at the task level and stay updated with email and in-app notifications. Join teams at Avis, Nestle and Siemens who are using our software to deliver successful projects. Get started with ProjectManager today for free.