Company: DARE
Filing Date: 2025-04-24
Form Type: DEF 14A
Source: 0001401914-25-000014
Chunk: 30

Company: Dare Bioscience, Inc.
Filing Date: 2025-04-24
Form: DEF 14A
Chunk 30
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 and scope of job function

• Retention risk

• Company performance

• Individual performance

• Total targeted and historical compensation

2025 Proxy Statement | Page 21

• Other factors the Compensation Committee determines appropriate

In the first quarter of the year, performance goals for such year are typically established by the Compensation Committee and our Board. Progress toward the achievement of these goals is reviewed by the Compensation Committee and our Board throughout the year. In the fourth quarter of the year, the Compensation Committee begins to evaluate the level of achievement of the performance goals for that year and to evaluate the companies for inclusion in the peer group used to assist in making compensation decisions for the upcoming year.

With respect to our executive compensation program, the Compensation Committee also, as necessary or appropriate, approves employment agreements, severance arrangements, change in control arrangements and other agreements.

#### Equity Award Granting Policy
We have a formal policy, which we adopted in 2018, for the timing of annual equity award grants to our employees, including our executive officers, to provide for a consistent process and to ensure the integrity and efficiency of the equity award process. Under this policy, annual equity awards are typically granted on the date that our Board approves the annual equity award to our Chief Executive Officer, or if our Board determines not to grant such award, on the date our Board makes such determination, which is usually the first regularly scheduled meeting of our Board each fiscal year. The Compensation Committee may change the annual grant date for any particular year if the Compensation Committee determines that granting annual awards on the date such awards would otherwise be granted under the policy would not be in the company’s best interest. Due to potential changes in management at the time of the first regularly scheduled meeting of our Board in 2024, equity award grants to our employees, including our executive officers, were made in March 2024 at a time when neither the Board nor our management was aware of any material nonpublic information regarding the Company. The timing of equity award grants to newly-hired employees, or in connection with promotions or other non-routine grants, is generally tied to the event giving rise to the award and are typically approved by the Compensation Committee or, for awards to newly-hired employees at the vice president level and below, by our Chief Executive Officer pursuant to a delegation of authority from our Compensation Committee. The grant date for equity award grants to newly-hired employees is typically the date on which they commence employment with us. Under our non-employee director compensation policy, annual stock option awards are granted