You might make this a yearly tradition - while there may be slight alterations in the rules or numbers from one year to the next, many of the fundamentals behind tax-saving advice remain the same.
Charitable contributions are deductible if you itemize deductions. However, most taxpayers find it best to take the standard deduction - $12,600 for married people filing jointly, $9,300 for heads of households and $6,300 for single or married people filing separately for the 2016 tax year. If it's best for you to take the standard deduction for 2016 but if you think you may itemize your deductions next year, consider holding off until the new year to make the donations.
You have until the tax return filing deadline, April 18 in 2017, to make 2016-tax-year contributions to a traditional IRA. The money you add could offset your income, and you'll be saving for retirement - a double win.