Memorandum

To	[Name, title], [Name, title]
From	[Your name, title]
CC	[People who need to know but not act; delete this row if there are none]
Date	[Month DD, YYYY]
Subject	[Topic and the ask, in under ten words]

Summary: [What is happening and what you need, in one to three sentences. Someone who reads only this should be able to act.]

Needed from you: [Approval / a decision / your input / no action] by [Month DD]

See an example

Subject: Approval needed by May 2: switching print vendors

Summary: Moving our catalog printing from Apex to Northline Print when the Apex contract ends on May 31 would save about $14,000 a year (18%), with the same paper stock and turnaround. I'd like your approval by May 2, so Northline can run a test batch before the June catalog goes to press.

Needed from you: Approval by May 2

Background

[Only the context the reader needs: what happened or changed, and why it comes up now. Two to five sentences.]

Key points

[The most important fact, finding or change]
[The next one, with a number, a date or a name where you have one]
[What it means for the reader: cost, schedule, or who is affected]

Optional: Options and a recommendation

Option	Cost	What it gets us	Risks
[Option A, the one you recommend]	[$0,000]	[The main benefit]	[What could go wrong]
[Option B]	[$0,000]	[The main benefit]	[What could go wrong]
[Do nothing]	[$0]	[What stays as it is]	[The cost of waiting]

Recommendation: [Option A, and the one reason that decides it]

Next steps

Action	Owner	Due
[What needs to happen, starting with a verb]	[Name or team]	[Month DD]
[What needs to happen]	[Name or team]	[Month DD]
[What needs to happen]	[Name or team]	[Month DD]

Send questions to [name] at [email or phone].

Attachments: [Document title, date; delete this line if there are none]