How to Add Initiatives in Jira
- George Apostolov
How to Add Initiatives in Jira: step-by-step guide
Click on the gear icon in the top-right corner.
Select 'Issues'.
Click 'Add Issue Type'.
Name it 'Initiative', select the Standard Issue Type and click 'Add'
Once saved, go to 'Issue type schemes'.
Locate the issue type scheme for the project you want Initiatives in and click the ellipsis icon.
Click 'Edit' to edit the scheme.
Add the 'Initiative' to the scheme by dragging the issue type to the current scheme.
Click 'Save'.
To verify, click 'Create'.
Select 'Initiative' from the dropdown.
You can now use 'Initiatives' to group Epics under a higher-level objective in larger projects or programs.
Quick answer: To add initiatives in Jira, click the gear icon, select Issues, add an Initiative issue type, edit your project's issue type scheme by dragging Initiative into it, and save. Finally, verify by selecting Initiative from the Create dropdown menu in your project.
About this Jira tutorial
Create and manage high-level project objectives in Jira by configuring new Initiative issue types and updating your issue type schemes. This guide shows how to add Initiatives in Jira in 12 steps, starting with "Click on the gear icon in the top-right corner" and finishing with "You can now use 'Initiatives' to group Epics under a higher-level objective in larger p...". The interactive demo above is a click-through copy of the real Jira interface, so you can rehearse each step before doing it in your own account.
Frequently asked questions
How many steps does it take to add Initiatives in Jira?
12 steps. Each one is listed in order above, and the demo highlights exactly where to click.
Can I try it without changing my own account?
Yes. Clicking through the demo doesn't touch your Jira data or settings. Once you know the flow, repeat it in your own workspace.
This tutorial is filed under Jira. Related guides: How to link tickets in jira, How to Add Labels in Jira Project and How to Add Pie Chart in Jira Dashboard. Last reviewed 05 Oct 2026.
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