Twitter isn’t just for writing quips to your followers or checking up on celebrities.

The social media tool was the main method of organization for a global event with a local gathering in Des Moines last week.

For the third year in a row, Des Moines participated in Twestival, or “Twitter festival,” an initiative of the Connect the Dots Foundation that takes place in more than 150 cities around the world. The premise is to use Twitter and other social media tools to organize a live fund-raiser for local charities.

The Des Moines Twestival decided to raise funds for the Evelyn Davis Early Learning Academy after members on the planning committee asked their Twitter followers how the money should be used. The overwhelming response, said lead organizer John Stineman, was education and youth development.

The event at Mars Cafe featured donated food, live music and beer donated from Olde Main Brewing Co. in Ames, and attracted about 200 people. Initial funds raised topped $1,100, but that figure could increase, as people are still able to donate online.

The goal is to use technology to bring people together in a live setting, but those who couldn’t make it were able to use Twitter to communicate on a projector screen with those who were at the event by using the hashtag #twestivaldsm.

This year’s event drew about twice as many people as last year, Stineman estimated, and has raised around three times as much money. Worldwide, Twestival raised more than $467,000 for charity, he said. As for future participation, the limit far exceeds the 140-character maximum for a tweet.

“It’s not just bigger than you, but bigger than your community,” Stineman said.