Project Charter

The project charter is the project's birth certificate. It documents the project's purpose, objectives, high-level requirements, key milestones, budget summary, success criteria, assigned project manager, and sponsor authority. The charter is created during the Initiating process group and is a key input to the Develop Project Management Plan process. Without a charter, the project officially does not exist. In PMP® methodology, the charter bridges the gap between strategic objectives and project execution — connecting the business case to the project scope.