diff --git a/.github/pull_request_template.md b/.github/pull_request_template.md
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..60c23104
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/pull_request_template.md
@@ -0,0 +1,59 @@
+<!--
+Replace this text, including the symbols above and below it, with descriptive text about
+the change you are proposing. Please include a reference to any issues addressed or
+resolved in that text, for example "resolves #1".
+-->
+
+<!--
+IMPORTANT: As a contributor, we would like as much help as you can offer, but we only
+expect you to complete the steps in the "PR draft checklist" below. Maintainers are
+willing and ready to help pick it up from there!
+
+Please start by opening this Pull Request as a "draft". You can do this by
+clicking the arrow on the right side of the green "Create pull request" button. While
+your pull request is in "draft" state, maintainers will assume the PR isn't ready for
+their attention unless they are specifically summoned using GitHub's @ system.
+
+Follow the draft checklist below to move the PR out of draft state. If you accidentally
+created the PR as a non-draft, don't worry, you can still change it to a draft using the
+"Convert to draft" button on  the right side panel under the "Reviewers" section.
+-->
+
+<details><summary>Pull Request (PR) draft checklist - click to expand</summary>
+
+- [ ] Please review our
+      [contributing documentation](https://earthaccess.readthedocs.io/en/latest/contributing/)
+      before getting started.
+- [ ] Ensure an issue exists representing the problem being solved in this PR.
+- [ ] Populate a descriptive title. For example, instead of "Updated README.md", use a
+      title such as "Add testing details to the contributor section of the README".
+- [ ] Populate the body of the pull request with:
+    - A clear description of the change you are proposing.
+    - Links to any issues resolved by this PR with text in the PR description, for
+      example `closes #1`. See
+      [GitHub docs - Linking a pull request to an issue](https://docs.github.com/en/issues/tracking-your-work-with-issues/linking-a-pull-request-to-an-issue).
+- [ ] Update `CHANGELOG.md` with details about your change in a section titled
+      `## Unreleased`. If such a section does not exist, please create one.
+- [ ] Update the documentation and/or the `README.md` with details of changes to the
+      earthaccess interface, if any. Consider new environment variables, function names,
+      decorators, etc.
+
+Click the "Ready for review" button at the bottom of the "Conversation" tab in GitHub
+once these requirements are fulfilled. Don't worry if you see any test failures in
+GitHub at this point!
+
+</details>
+
+<details><summary>Pull Request (PR) merge checklist - click to expand</summary>
+
+Please do your best to complete these requirements! If you need help with any of these
+requirements, you can ping the `@nsidc/earthaccess-support` team in a comment and we
+will help you out!
+
+- [ ] Add unit tests for any new features.
+- [ ] Apply formatting and linting autofixes. You can add a GitHub comment in this Pull
+      Request containing "pre-commit.ci autofix" to automate this.
+- [ ] Ensure all automated PR checks (seen at the bottom of the "conversation" tab) pass.
+- [ ] Get at least one approving review.
+
+</details>
diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index c5ee95ac..a0cc813c 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 # Changelog
 
-## [Unreleased]
+## Unreleased
 
 ### Changed
 
diff --git a/docs/contributing/index.md b/docs/contributing/index.md
index 3d149637..fc39f629 100644
--- a/docs/contributing/index.md
+++ b/docs/contributing/index.md
@@ -66,21 +66,9 @@ We have included type stubs for the untyped `python-cmr` library, which we
 intend to eventually upstream.  Since `python-cmr` exposes the `cmr` package,
 the stubs appear under `stubs/cmr`.
 
-### Requirements to merge code (Pull Request Process)
-
-- you must include test coverage
-- you must update the documentation
-- you must format and lint
-
 ## Pull Request process
 
-1. Ensure you include test coverage for all changes
-1. Ensure your code is formatted properly following this document
-1. Update the documentation and the `README.md` with details of changes to the
-   interface, this includes new environment variables, function names,
-   decorators, etc.
-1. Update `CHANGELOG.md` with details about your change in a section titled
-   `Unreleased`. If one does not exist, please create one.
-1. You may merge the Pull Request once you have the sign-off of another
-   developer, or if you do not have permission to do that, you may request the
-   reviewer to merge it for you.
+Fork the repository using the "Fork" button on the [repository
+homepage](https://github.com/nsidc/earthaccess), create a branch with your changes in the fork, then open
+a draft pull request from your fork. Starting a pull request provides additional instructions and requirements, and
+there is no harm in starting a draft pull request while still developing.
diff --git a/docs/contributing/maintainers-guide.md b/docs/contributing/maintainers-guide.md
index 1ac2fc79..2d54a354 100644
--- a/docs/contributing/maintainers-guide.md
+++ b/docs/contributing/maintainers-guide.md
@@ -53,6 +53,3 @@ The GitHub Actions CI services handle the project's building, testing, and manag
 ## Continuous Documentation
 
 [ReadTheDocs](https://readthedocs.org/projects/earthaccess/) is used to generate and host [our documentation website](https://earthaccess.readthedocs.io/) as well as the preview for documentation changes made in pull requests. This service uses a configuration file in the root of the project, `.readthedocs.yml`.
-
-
-