diff --git a/.github/template-files/config.yml b/.github/template-files/config.yml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..8e51131c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/template-files/config.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,50 @@
+conda/governance:
+  # [required] community files
+  - CODE_OF_CONDUCT.md
+
+conda/infrastructure:
+  # [required] general workflows
+  - .github/workflows/cla.yml
+  - .github/workflows/update.yml
+
+  # [optional] to include repo in https://github.com/orgs/conda/projects/2
+  - .github/workflows/issues.yml
+  - .github/workflows/labels.yml
+  - .github/workflows/project.yml
+
+  # [optional] stale bot workflows
+  - .github/workflows/stale.yml
+  - .github/workflows/lock.yml
+
+  # [optional] general processes for the conda org
+  - src: templates/HOW_WE_USE_GITHUB.md
+    dst: HOW_WE_USE_GITHUB.md
+
+  # [optional] standard issue templates
+  - src: templates/issues/bug.yml
+    dst: .github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/0_bug.yml
+
+  - src: templates/issues/feature.yml
+    dst: .github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/1_feature.yml
+
+  - src: templates/issues/documentation.yml
+    dst: .github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/2_documentation.yml
+
+  - src: templates/issues/epic.yml
+    dst: .github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/epic.yml
+
+  # [optional] standard PR template
+  - src: templates/pull_requests/base.md
+    dst: .github/PULL_REQUEST_TEMPLATE.md
+  # - src: templates/pull_requests/news_tests_docs.md
+  #   dst: .github/template-files/templates/pull_request_template_details.md
+
+  # [optional] rever release files
+  # - src: templates/releases/RELEASE.md
+  #   dst: RELEASE.md
+  #   with:
+  #     placeholder: YY.M
+  # - src: templates/releases/rever.xsh
+  #   dst: rever.xsh
+  # - src: templates/releases/TEMPLATE
+  #   dst: news/TEMPLATE
diff --git a/templates/issues/epic.yml b/templates/issues/epic.yml
index 7377ff53..7ab2bc4d 100644
--- a/templates/issues/epic.yml
+++ b/templates/issues/epic.yml
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ body:
         Since there are already a lot of open issues, please also take a moment to search existing ones to see if a similar epic has already been opened. If you find something related, please upvote that issue and provide additional details as necessary.
 
         💐 Thank you for helping to make `[[ repo.full_name ]]` better. We would be unable to improve `[[ repo.full_name ]]` without our community!
+
   - type: checkboxes
     id: checks
     attributes:
@@ -26,23 +27,82 @@ body:
       options:
         - label: I added a descriptive title
           required: true
-        - label: I searched open reports and couldn't find a duplicate
+        - label: I searched open issues and couldn't find a duplicate
           required: true
+
+  - type: textarea
+    id: what
+    attributes:
+      label: What?
+      description: >-
+        What feature or problem will be addressed in this epic?
+      placeholder: Please describe here.
+    validations:
+      required: true
+
+  - type: textarea
+    id: why
+    attributes:
+      label: Why?
+      description: >-
+        Why is the reported issue(s) a problem, or why is the proposed feature needed?
+        (Research and spike issues can be linked here.)
+      value: |
+        - [ ] <supporting issue from user, research, or spike>
+      placeholder: Please describe here and/or link to relevant supporting issues.
+    validations:
+      required: true
+
   - type: textarea
-    id: summary
+    id: user_impact
     attributes:
-      label: Summary
+      label: User impact
       description: >-
-        Define the highlevel objectives to be accomplished in this epic. Include the
-        bigger picture of what is changing and/or the user story for why the
-        changes are desired/necessary.
+        In what specific way(s) will users benefit from this change? (e.g. use cases or performance improvements)
+      placeholder: Please describe here.
     validations:
       required: true
+
   - type: textarea
+    id: goals
     attributes:
-      label: Linked Issues & PRs
-      description: List all issues related to this epic.
+      label: Goals
+      description: >-
+        What goal(s) should this epic accomplish?
       value: |
-        - [ ] #
+        - [ ] <goal>
     validations:
       required: true
+
+  - type: textarea
+    id: tasks
+    attributes:
+      label: Tasks
+      description: >-
+        What needs to be done to implement this change?
+      value: |
+        - [ ] <task or PR>
+    validations:
+      required: false
+
+  - type: textarea
+    id: blocked_by
+    attributes:
+      label: 'This epic is blocked by:'
+      description: >-
+        Epics and issues that block this epic.
+      value: |
+        - [ ] <dependency epic or issue>
+    validations:
+      required: false
+
+  - type: textarea
+    id: blocks
+    attributes:
+      label: 'This epic blocks:'
+      description: >-
+        Epics and issues that are blocked by this epic.
+      value: |
+        - [ ] <dependency epic or issue>
+    validations:
+      required: false