diff --git a/.github/pull_request_template.md b/.github/pull_request_template.md
index a956b5b32..66d98f7a3 100644
--- a/.github/pull_request_template.md
+++ b/.github/pull_request_template.md
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
-<!-- Put your changes here -->
-
 <!--
 Thanks for contributing to cf-scripts!
+
 We are currently transitioning to a Pydantic-based model documenting the format of the conda-forge dependency graph
 data that this bot internally uses (see README).
 
@@ -11,4 +10,14 @@ conda_forge_tick/models appropriately and document any new fields or files. Tick
 Note that the model exists next to and independent of the actual production code.
 -->
 
+Description:
+
+<!-- Please describe your PR here. -->
+
+Checklist:
+
 - [ ] Pydantic model updated or no update needed
+
+Cross-refs, links to issues, etc:
+
+<!-- Please cross-link your PR to any open issues, other PRs, etc. here. -->