What is a project charter?

A project charter is a formal, short document that authorises a project’s existence, defines its objectives and scope, and gives the project manager the authority to use resources. It is typically produced during the initiation phase.

What it contains

A charter usually states the project purpose and objectives, high-level scope and deliverables, key stakeholders and sponsor, a rough budget and timeline, main risks and assumptions, and the criteria for success.

Why it matters

The charter aligns everyone on why the project exists and what “done” looks like before detailed planning begins. It is the reference that prevents scope creep and settles disputes about goals later on.

Charter vs. project plan

The charter is a brief, high-level authorisation created at the start; the project plan is the detailed roadmap that follows. The charter says why and what; the plan says how, when and by whom.

From charter to execution in FoxPlan

FoxPlan turns the charter’s goals into a structured plan — scope, tasks, budget and resources in one place — so the intent captured at kickoff is tracked all the way to delivery.