Disclosed are systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable storage media for managing project tasks using content items. A user can create tasks within a content item. The tasks can be assigned to users and/or be assigned due dates. The content item can be shared with other users such that updates to the content item (e.g., updates to the tasks) can cause sending notifications to users associated with the content item. When a task in the content item is updated, all members of the project can be notified of the updated status of the task. A task list for a project can be created that aggregates tasks from multiple content items associated with the project. Tasks can be organized in the task list according to the content item the task was created in. Updates to tasks in the task list can cause corresponding updates to the tasks in the content items.