diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 6bd7cda8..ce14ec11 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 ## [Unreleased]
 
 ### Added
+* Make contributing guidelines optional [#465]()
 * Make developer documentation optional [#467](https://github.com/NLeSC/python-template/pull/541)
 * Make Code of Conduct optional [#464](https://github.com/NLeSC/python-template/pull/530)
 * New YAML files for copier questions [#529](https://github.com/NLeSC/python-template/pull/529)
diff --git a/copier/questions/features.yml b/copier/questions/features.yml
index e1ef00f7..c5c6e185 100644
--- a/copier/questions/features.yml
+++ b/copier/questions/features.yml
@@ -50,6 +50,11 @@ AddCodeConduct:
   type: bool
   default: "{{ template_profile != 'minimum' }}"
   help: Add code of conduct?
+AddContributing:
+  when: "{{ template_profile == 'ask' }}"
+  type: bool
+  default: "{{ template_profile != 'minimum' }}"
+  help: Add contributing guidelines?
 AddDevDoc:
   when: "{{ template_profile == 'ask' }}"
   type: bool
diff --git a/template/README.md.jinja b/template/README.md.jinja
index 89c9287b..8523375a 100644
--- a/template/README.md.jinja
+++ b/template/README.md.jinja
@@ -50,10 +50,12 @@ python -m pip install .
 
 Include a link to your project's full documentation here.
 
+{% if AddContributing -%}
 ## Contributing
 
 If you want to contribute to the development of {{ package_name }},
 have a look at the [contribution guidelines](CONTRIBUTING.md).
+{%- endif %}
 
 ## Credits
 
diff --git a/template/project_setup.md.jinja b/template/project_setup.md.jinja
index f3914fab..3fa94112 100644
--- a/template/project_setup.md.jinja
+++ b/template/project_setup.md.jinja
@@ -109,10 +109,12 @@ help you decide which tool to use for packaging.
 - [Relevant section in the guide](https://guide.esciencecenter.nl/#/best_practices/documentation?id=code-of-conduct)
 {%- endif %}
 
+{% if AddContributing -%}
 ## CONTRIBUTING.md
 
 - Information about how to contribute to this software package
 - [Relevant section in the guide](https://guide.esciencecenter.nl/#/best_practices/documentation?id=contribution-guidelines)
+{%- endif %}
 
 ## MANIFEST.in
 
diff --git a/template/CONTRIBUTING.md.jinja b/template/{% if AddContribution %}CONTRIBUTING.md{% endif %}.jinja
similarity index 100%
rename from template/CONTRIBUTING.md.jinja
rename to template/{% if AddContribution %}CONTRIBUTING.md{% endif %}.jinja