diff --git a/CONTRIBUTING.md b/CONTRIBUTING.md
index 44eb8638a..bf8505a0e 100644
--- a/CONTRIBUTING.md
+++ b/CONTRIBUTING.md
@@ -1,28 +1,66 @@
 ## Contributing to Caddy
 
-**[Join our dev chat on Gitter](https://gitter.im/mholt/caddy)** to chat with
-other Caddy developers! (Dev chat only; try our
-[support room](https://gitter.im/caddyserver/support) for help or
-[general](https://gitter.im/caddyserver/general) for anything else.)
-
-This project gladly accepts contributions and we encourage interested users to 
-get involved!
+Welcome! Our community focuses on helping others and making Caddy the best it
+can be. We gladly accept contributions and encourage you to get involved!
 
 
-#### For small tweaks, bug fixes, and tests
+### Join us in chat
 
-Submit [pull requests](https://github.com/mholt/caddy/pulls) at any time. 
-Bug fixes should be under test to assert correct behavior. Thank you for
-helping out in simple ways!
+Please direct your discussion to the correct room:
+
+- **Dev Chat:** [gitter.im/mholt/caddy](https://gitter.im/mholt/caddy) - to chat
+with other Caddy developers
+- **Support:**
+[gitter.im/caddyserver/support](https://gitter.im/caddyserver/support) - to give
+and get help
+- **General:**
+[gitter.im/caddyserver/general](https://gitter.im/caddyserver/general) - for
+anything about Web development
 
 
-#### Ideas, questions, bug reports
+### Bug reports
+
+First, please [search this repository](https://github.com/mholt/caddy/search?q=&type=Issues&utf8=%E2%9C%93)
+with a variety of keywords to ensure your bug is not already reported.
+
+If not, [open an issue](https://github.com/mholt/caddy/issues) and answer the
+questions so we can understand and reproduce the problematic behavior.
+
+The burden is on you to convince us that it is actually a bug in Caddy. This is
+easiest to do when you write clear, concise instructions so we can reproduce
+the behavior (even if it seems obvious). The more detailed and specific you are,
+the faster we will be able to help you. Check out
+[How to Report Bugs Effectively](http://www.chiark.greenend.org.uk/~sgtatham/bugs.html).
+
+Please be kind. :smile: Remember that Caddy comes at no cost to you, and you're
+getting free help. If we helped you, please consider
+[donating](https://caddyserver.com/donate) - it keeps us motivated!
+
+
+
+### Minor improvements and new tests
+
+Submit [pull requests](https://github.com/mholt/caddy/pulls) at any time. Make
+sure to write tests to assert your change is working properly and is thoroughly
+covered.
+
+
+### Proposals, suggestions, ideas, new features
+
+First, please [search](https://github.com/mholt/caddy/search?q=&type=Issues&utf8=%E2%9C%93)
+with a variety of keywords to ensure your suggestion/proposal is new.
+
+If so, you may open either an issue or a pull request for discussion and
+feedback.
+
+The advantage of issues is that you don't have to spend time actually
+implementing your idea, but you should still describe it thoroughly. The
+advantage of a pull request is that we can immediately see the impact the change
+will have on the project, what the code will look like, and how to improve it.
+The disadvantage of pull requests is that they are unlikely to get accepted
+without significant changes, or it may be rejected entirely. Don't worry, that
+won't happen without an open discussion first.
 
-Feel free to [open an issue](https://github.com/mholt/caddy/issues) with your
-ideas, questions, and bug reports, if one does not already exist for it. Bug
-reports should state expected behavior and contain clear instructions for
-isolating and reproducing the problem.
-See [How to Report Bugs Effectively](http://www.chiark.greenend.org.uk/~sgtatham/bugs.html).
 
 
 #### New features
diff --git a/ISSUE_TEMPLATE b/ISSUE_TEMPLATE
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..f9d55a2db
--- /dev/null
+++ b/ISSUE_TEMPLATE
@@ -0,0 +1,20 @@
+*If you are filing a bug report, please answer these questions. If your issue is not a bug report, you do not need to use this template. Either way, please consider donating if we've helped you. Thanks!*
+
+#### 1. What version of Caddy are you running (`caddy -version`)?
+
+
+#### 2. What are you trying to do?
+
+
+#### 3. What is your entire Caddyfile?
+```text
+(Put Caddyfile here)
+```
+
+#### 4. How did you run Caddy (give the full command and describe the execution environment)?
+
+
+#### 5. What did you expect to see?
+
+
+#### 6. What did you see instead (give full error messages and/or log)?