diff --git a/.github/CONTRIBUTING.md b/.github/CONTRIBUTING.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..5f9beec
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/CONTRIBUTING.md
@@ -0,0 +1,125 @@
+# Contributing | ReactFire
+
+Thank you for contributing to the Firebase community!
+
+ - [Have a usage question?](#question)
+ - [Think you found a bug?](#issue)
+ - [Have a feature request?](#feature)
+ - [Want to submit a pull request?](#submit)
+ - [Need to get set up locally?](#local-setup)
+
+
+## <a name="question"></a>Have a usage question?
+
+We get lots of those and we love helping you, but GitHub is not the best place for them. Issues
+which just ask about usage will be closed. Here are some resources to get help:
+
+- Start with the [quickstart](../docs/quickstart.md)
+- Go through the [guide](../docs/guide.md)
+- Read the full [API reference](../docs/reference.md)
+- Try out some [examples](../examples/README.md)
+
+If the official documentation doesn't help, try asking a question through our
+[official support channels](https://firebase.google.com/support/).
+
+**Please avoid double posting across multiple channels!**
+
+
+## <a name="issue"></a>Think you found a bug?
+
+Yeah, we're definitely not perfect!
+
+Search through [old issues](https://github.com/firebase/reactfire/issues) before submitting a new
+issue as your question may have already been answered.
+
+If your issue appears to be a bug, and hasn't been reported,
+[open a new issue](https://github.com/firebase/reactfire/issues/new). Please use the provided bug
+report template and include a minimal repro.
+
+If you are up to the challenge, [submit a pull request](#submit) with a fix!
+
+
+## <a name="feature"></a>Have a feature request?
+
+Great, we love hearing how we can improve our products! After making sure someone hasn't already
+requested the feature in the [existing issues](https://github.com/firebase/reactfire/issues), go
+ahead and [open a new issue](https://github.com/firebase/reactfire/issues/new). Feel free to remove
+the bug report template and instead provide an explanation of your feature request. Provide code
+samples if applicable. Try to think about what it will allow you to do that you can't do today? How
+will it make current workarounds straightforward? What potential bugs and edge cases does it help to
+avoid?
+
+
+## <a name="submit"></a>Want to submit a pull request?
+
+Sweet, we'd love to accept your contribution! [Open a new pull request](https://github.com/firebase/reactfire/pull/new/master)
+and fill out the provided form.
+
+**If you want to implement a new feature, please open an issue with a proposal first so that we can
+figure out if the feature makes sense and how it will work.**
+
+Make sure your changes pass our linter and the tests all pass on your local machine. We've hooked
+up this repo with continuous integration to double check those things for you.
+
+Most non-trivial changes should include some extra test coverage. If you aren't sure how to add
+tests, feel free to submit regardless and ask us for some advice.
+
+Finally, you will need to sign our [Contributor License Agreement](https://cla.developers.google.com/about/google-individual)
+before we can accept your pull request.
+
+
+## <a name="local-setup"></a>Need to get set up locally?
+
+If you'd like to contribute to ReactFire, you'll need to do the following to get your environment
+set up.
+
+### Install Dependencies
+
+```bash
+$ git clone https://github.com/firebase/reactfire.git
+$ cd reactfire          # go to the reactfire directory
+$ npm install -g gulp   # globally install gulp task runner
+$ npm install -g bower  # globally install Bower package manager
+$ npm install           # install local npm build / test dependencies
+$ bower install         # install local JavaScript dependencies
+```
+
+### Create a Firebase Project
+
+1. Create a Firebase project [here](https://console.firebase.google.com).
+2. Set the project's Realtime Database Security Rules to public:
+
+```json
+{
+  "rules": {
+    ".read": true,
+    ".write": true
+  }
+}
+```
+
+3. Set the `REACTFIRE_TEST_DB_URL` environment variable to your project's database URL:
+
+```bash
+$ export REACTFIRE_TEST_DB_URL="https://<YOUR-DATABASE-NAME>.firebaseio.com"
+```
+
+### Download a Service Account JSON File
+
+1. Follow the instructions [here](https://firebase.google.com/docs/server/setup#add_firebase_to_your_app)
+on how to create a service account for your project and furnish a private key.
+2. Copy the credentials JSON file to `tests/key.json`.
+
+### Lint, Build, and Test
+
+```bash
+$ gulp           # lint, build, and test
+
+$ gulp lint      # just lint
+$ gulp build     # just build
+$ gulp test      # just test
+
+$ gulp watch     # lint and build whenever source files change
+```
+
+The output files - `reactfire.js` and `reactfire.min.js` - are written to the `/dist/` directory.
diff --git a/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE.md b/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..8bbab90
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE.md
@@ -0,0 +1,68 @@
+<!--
+
+Thank you for contributing to the Firebase community!
+
+Have a usage question?
+=======================
+We get lots of those and we love helping you, but GitHub is not the best place for them and they
+will be closed. Here are some resources to get help:
+
+- Start with the quickstart: https://github.com/firebase/reactfire/blob/master/docs/quickstart.md
+- Go through the guide: https://github.com/firebase/reactfire/blob/master/docs/guide.md
+- Read the full API reference: https://github.com/firebase/reactfire/blob/master/docs/reference.md
+- Try out some examples: https://github.com/firebase/reactfire/blob/master/examples/README.md
+
+If the official documentation doesn't help, try asking through our official support channels:
+
+https://firebase.google.com/support/
+
+*Please avoid double posting across multiple channels!*
+
+Think you found a bug?
+=======================
+Yeah, we're definitely not perfect! Please use the bug report template below and include a minimal
+repro when opening the issue.
+
+
+Have a feature request?
+========================
+Great, we love hearing how we can improve our products! Just remove the template below and
+provide an explanation of your feature request. Provide code samples if applicable. Try to
+think about what it will allow you to do that you can't do today? How will it make current
+workarounds straightforward? What potential bugs and edge cases does it help to avoid?
+
+-->
+
+
+### Version info
+
+<!-- What versions of the following libraries are you using? Note that your issue may already
+be fixed in the latest versions. -->
+
+**React:**
+
+**Firebase:**
+
+**ReactFire:**
+
+**Other (e.g. Node, browser, operating system) (if applicable):**
+
+### Test case
+
+<!-- Provide a minimal, complete, and verifiable example (http://stackoverflow.com/help/mcve)
+using either Plunker (http://plnkr.co/) or JSFiddle (https://jsfiddle.net/). -->
+
+
+### Steps to reproduce
+
+<!-- Provide the steps needed to reproduce the issue given the above test case. -->
+
+
+### Expected behavior
+
+<!-- What is the expected behavior? -->
+
+
+### Actual behavior
+
+<!-- What is the actual behavior? -->
diff --git a/.github/PULL_REQUEST_TEMPLATE.md b/.github/PULL_REQUEST_TEMPLATE.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..80efa77
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/PULL_REQUEST_TEMPLATE.md
@@ -0,0 +1,31 @@
+<!--
+
+Thank you for contributing to the Firebase community! Please fill out the pull request form below
+and make note of the following:
+
+Run the linter and test suite
+==============================
+Make sure your changes pass our linter and the tests all pass on your local machine. We've hooked
+up this repo with continuous integration to double check those things for you.
+
+Add tests (if applicable)
+==============================
+Most non-trivial changes should include some extra test coverage. If you aren't sure how to add
+tests, feel free to submit regardless and ask us for some advice.
+
+Sign our CLA
+==============================
+Please sign our Contributor License Agreement (https://cla.developers.google.com/about/google-individual)
+before sending PRs. We cannot accept code without this.
+
+-->
+
+
+### Description
+
+<!-- Are you fixing a bug? Updating our documentation? Implementing a new feature? Make sure we
+have the context around your change. Link to other relevant issues or pull requests. -->
+
+### Code sample
+
+<!-- Proposing an API change? Provide code samples showing how the API will be used. -->
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index f52339f..7394229 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -75,22 +75,5 @@ $ bower install reactfire --save
 
 ## Contributing
 
-If you'd like to contribute to ReactFire, you'll need to run the following commands to get your
-environment set up:
-
-```bash
-$ git clone https://github.com/firebase/reactfire.git
-$ cd reactfire          # go to the reactfire directory
-$ npm install -g gulp   # globally install gulp task runner
-$ npm install -g bower  # globally install Bower package manager
-$ npm install           # install local npm build / test dependencies
-$ bower install         # install local JavaScript dependencies
-$ gulp watch            # watch for source file changes
-```
-
-`gulp watch` will watch for changes in the `/src/` directory and lint, concatenate, and minify the
-source files when a change occurs. The output files - `reactfire.js` and `reactfire.min.js` - are
-written to the `/dist/` directory.
-
-You can run the test suite by navigating to `file:///path/to/reactfire/tests/index.html` or via the
-command line using `gulp test`.
+If you'd like to contribute to ReactFire, please first read through our [contribution
+guidelines](.github/CONTRIBUTING.md). Local setup instructions are available [here](.github/CONTRIBUTING.md#local-setup).